Some Easy Wins for Improving War Thunder Tournaments
The competitive side of War Thunder (TSS/COMP) has been growing slowly over the years — we’ve seen some cool events, good teams forming, and more interest overall. But honestly, there are still some really simple things Gaijin could do to make tournaments way more appealing — especially with the next big Championship coming up.
Here are a few ideas that would help a lot, especially for keeping long-time, loyal players involved — the people who’ve stuck with the game and want something to aim for.
1. Increase GE Rewards – Seriously, 600 GE for a Win?
Right now, winning a 1v1 Ground Tournament gets you 600 GE. That’s… honestly kind of a joke, considering how much effort and time goes into actually winning one. Upping that reward to something like 2,000 GE would make a massive difference.
Why it would help:
- Players who already compete would be more motivated to keep going.
- Newer or more casual players might actually try tournaments if there’s a real prize on the table.
- Content creators could make videos like “How to Earn Free GE in War Thunder” featuring tournaments — which means free promo for the comp scene.
And no, this wouldn’t hurt Gaijin’s bottom line — GE is all digital, they control the economy. If anything, it gives people a reason to stay engaged and maybe even spend more later.
If someone says “we can only increase rewards after more people play tournaments,” just look at the D-Day tournament. They boosted the rewards and added a decal + title, and the site literally crashed from how many people joined. That’s the proof right there — people want better rewards.
2. Better Prizes = More Players (I’ve Seen It Myself)
I run a competitive team, and I saw 10 new players apply in a single day after the Armoured Apex Qualifier rewards were announced. That says everything.
When people see real, worthwhile rewards, they want in. And again — these rewards are all in-game. Gaijin isn’t losing anything by offering more GE or premium vehicles/titles. But they are gaining players, activity, and more competitive teams.
It also gives the old guard — the loyal, hardcore players — something fresh to work toward, especially if they’ve already unlocked everything else.
3. Bring Back the Dog Tag System
This one was honestly great. The Dog Tag system made it easy for regular players to follow and support teams during tournaments. It made the comp scene feel connected to the rest of the player base, not like a completely separate thing.
Plus, it helped raise prize pools and probably even brought in money for Gaijin. Why was it removed? Who knows — but it worked, and it’d be awesome to bring it back. It’s something that made tournaments feel like a bigger deal.
If it was removed due to low use, maybe it just wasn’t promoted enough. Pair it with better rewards and more hype, and it could easily be a win.
4. Bring Back Ranking Challenges
Another system that needs to return is Ranking Challenges. These gave players clear goals, measurable progress, and rewards based on how well they played over time — not just one-off tournament wins.
This kind of long-term progression:
- Keeps players coming back regularly.
- Gives non-top-tier players something to aim for even if they can’t win a whole tournament.
- Makes the comp side of the game feel more alive and worth investing in.
It was a great system for building consistency, helping players grow, and rewarding both skill and dedication. Right now, once you’ve played a few tournaments, there’s nothing to track your improvement. Ranking Challenges filled that gap — and they should absolutely come back.
5. The TSS Website Needs a Serious Revamp
Let’s be honest — the current TSS website is awful. It’s outdated, clunky, and not user-friendly at all. New players get confused just trying to figure out how to join a tournament or where to see results. Even experienced players sometimes struggle with the layout and lack of features.
If Gaijin is serious about growing the comp scene, this should be a top priority:
- Make it easier to sign up, find info, and follow brackets.
- Add team pages, player stats, and rankings that update in real time.
- Improve mobile support — a lot of players check from their phones.
Right now, the website feels like an afterthought, and that’s hurting the scene. It should be a central hub — sleek, easy to use, and full of reasons to check back often.
Final Thoughts
A lot of us have stuck with War Thunder for years. We’re not asking for anything crazy — just a few small changes that would make the comp scene more rewarding, more fun, and way more active.
This would give long-time loyal players something new to work toward, keep them playing longer, and also help bring in new blood. It’s good for the players, good for the community, and honestly good for Gaijin too.
None of this is hard to implement — and the potential upside is huge. Let’s make it happen.