What I mean is that they don’t put in actual effort or actively try to improve. They simply squeeze as much as they can out of existing vehicles until they are forced to add new content. This approach changes only when it comes to modern vehicles, which are currently popular. Right now, modern content is taking the spotlight because it’s the most profitable. They are the “Tarkov” of this genre—without any real competitors, they get away with a lot of questionable crap.
One word describes War Thunder: Monopoly. It’s the only option for players seeking vehicle-only gameplay, and this situation is unlikely to change unless DCS and GHPC merge. As a result, Gaijin remains the only choice.
The rapid development of Enlisted happened because Gaijin realized it faced substantial competition. Players didn’t stick around when mistakes were made, as there were alternatives like Squad, Arma, and Hell Let Loose. This competition forced Gaijin to adapt quickly. However, War Thunder lacks such competition, allowing it to continue its current practices unchecked.
War Thunder’s current management practices are downright infuriating. With its monopoly in the vehicle-only gameplay niche, Gaijin has grown complacent and greedy. They maximize profits with minimal effort, often at the expense of player experience. Gaijin just keeps recycling content, squeezing every last bit out of existing vehicles before reluctantly adding something new. The result is a repetitive, stale game that sees little innovation or meaningful updates.
On top of that, the game includes many premium vehicles and quality-of-life features locked behind paywalls. While not always outright pay-to-win, these elements can still give paying players significant advantages, especially when premium vehicles are overpowered, creating an uneven playing field that frustrates those who want a fair, skill-based game.
Gaijin’s communication with its player base is abysmal. They ignore or inadequately address community feedback, leading to a growing sense of frustration and feeling undervalued among players. The game’s economy is another sore point. It’s punishing and grind-heavy, requiring an insane amount of time or money to progress. This discourages new players and frustrates those who aren’t willing to fork out cash.
The player rebellion regarding the game’s economy is a prime example of how badly Gaijin has handled things. Players were outraged by the punishing economic model, and instead of addressing the core issues, Gaijin’s response was slow and poorly managed. Their reputation took a significant hit, but they didn’t seem to learn from it. They still focus more on how much they can squeeze out of players without causing an uproar, rather than improving the game’s enjoyability.
When a strong competitor finally emerges, War Thunder is going to crash and burn. Players will jump ship to a new game that offers innovative gameplay, better engagement, and a fairer economic model. This exact scenario happened with World of Tanks. They lost a massive chunk of their player base due to similar flaws and the rise of better alternatives.
Gaijin can innovate and improve under pressure, as seen with Enlisted, which faced competition from Squad, Arma, and Hell Let Loose. Gaijin was forced to rapidly develop and improve Enlisted to keep players. But War Thunder hasn’t faced this kind of pressure yet, and it shows.
Honestly, I’m just done with War Thunder. I have little hope that they will improve on their own. If they keep going down this path without addressing core issues, it’s going to be a disaster once a new, compelling alternative emerges. Players will flock to a new game that offers regular updates, a balanced economy, and better community engagement. Developers who actively listen to and engage with their player base will build a more loyal and satisfied community.
Sorry for the rant…
