Hello, dear War Thunder development team!
My name is Nick. I have been actively playing War Thunder since last summer, although I originally joined the project back in 2013 when ground vehicles were first introduced.
I would like to share my feedback on the new “Nuclear Thunder” mode.
First, I want to mention the positives, which in my opinion outweigh the negatives.
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This is truly a new mode for aircraft gameplay. Air RB has been stagnating for quite a long time, and this is the first time in years that something genuinely fresh has appeared, bringing a different kind of aviation gameplay. It is not just PvP between aircraft anymore, but a full tactical mode with strikes on enemy fortification lines, where your actions can determine whether friendly AI forces manage to break through the frontline.
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Faction-based confrontation with aircraft of roughly the same era. Personally, I have always wanted a mode like this — where things are closer to reality and NATO aircraft fight against Soviet aircraft that were historically designed for this kind of confrontation. This adds a sense of realism that sets War Thunder apart from many other games.
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Reworked AI units and the introduction of new air defense systems. You managed to create a believable battlefield environment where ground forces are protected by strong air defenses and AI behaves in a more strategic way. I would really like to see similar AI systems eventually appear in standard Air RB as well.
Now about the downsides and some suggestions.
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As much as I like the new AI systems, I have to admit that at the moment the SAM systems on the map — particularly the Osa — feel excessively strong. They almost completely prevent ground attack and close air support. Aircraft like the A-10 or Su-25 are destroyed on approach almost instantly, and even complex maneuvers with countermeasures often do not help. Unfortunately, the new anti-radiation missiles also feel ineffective, since they are easily intercepted by enemy air defense systems.
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The main reward of the match — killstreak that allows you to spawn a strategic bomber (B-52 or Tu-95) — currently feels disproportionate compared to the effort required to obtain it. You need to play using all your knowledge and earn a large amount of points. But once you finally spawn the bomber, you can be shot down immediately by enemy interceptors, right near the spawn point, where you don’t have a chance to defend yourself in any way.
I would suggest either lowering the number of points required to obtain this reward or providing additional protection for the bomber — for example by increasing its survivability or adding some form of enemy aircraft detection near the bomber spawn area, similar to how it works in Ground RB.
During the regular part of the battle, your success mostly depends on your skill. But once you spawn the strategic bomber, your personal skill matters much less, and the outcome depends purely on luck — and not in your favor.
Thank you for your work and for bringing new ideas to the game. I hope this mode will continue to evolve and become a permanent part of War Thunder.