The Game Is Completely Unbalanced and Unrealistic at Top Tier
I am writing this post out of genuine frustration. After thousands upon thousands of hours spent playing War Thunder with my friends, we decided to make this report in the hope that someone will read it and take action.
At top tier, both in Air Battles and Ground Battles, the game feels heavily unbalanced. Let me explain why.
First of all, Russian aircraft have access to the Kh-38MT missile, which in its current state feels completely unbalanced and unrealistic. Based on publicly available information, this missile does not perform the way it currently does in-game. Its speed and overall effectiveness seem significantly beyond what open-source data suggests, and this single weapon has a major impact on gameplay balance.
Meanwhile, NATO aircraft are still missing several capabilities and weapons that should be available. The Meteor missile is absent, radar performance often feels inconsistent, and many Western systems do not appear to perform at the level they should.
The Russian LMUR missile is another example. Its in-game performance appears significantly better than what publicly available specifications would indicate, particularly regarding speed and effectiveness.
These are only a few examples of what many players perceive as a broader imbalance affecting NATO vehicles. In many matches, it feels as if NATO nations are fighting vehicles that belong to a much lower Battle Rating while facing Soviet and Russian equipment that consistently performs above expectations.
Then there is the BMPT. I find it difficult to understand its current implementation. Its cannon accuracy feels unrealistically high, its survivability is exceptional, and in many situations it becomes extremely difficult to counter effectively. As a result, it often feels overwhelmingly strong compared to comparable vehicles from other nations.
The same concerns apply to Russian anti-air systems. At top tier, they often appear to dominate the battlefield to such an extent that it becomes difficult to understand why players would choose other nations if they are looking for the most competitive experience.
I also hope, although probably in vain, that Gaijin will finally stop using fantasy values for vehicles such as the M1A2 SEP V3 and start implementing them according to realistic performance data. For years, many players have felt that NATO equipment is consistently underperforming compared to available information, while Russian vehicles often receive far more favorable treatment.
At this point, it feels obvious that NATO weapons and vehicles are heavily nerfed, while Russian equipment benefits from what many players sarcastically call “magic armor,” “magic survivability,” and “magic missiles.” Whether intentional or not, the perception of bias has existed for years and continues to grow with every update.
I understand that balancing a game as complex as War Thunder is not easy, but from the perspective of many long-time players, top tier currently feels heavily skewed in favor of Russian vehicles. The result is a gameplay experience that is becoming increasingly frustrating and, in many cases, simply no longer enjoyable.
Players are not asking for one nation to dominate another. We are asking for consistency, transparency, and realistic implementation standards applied equally to all nations. If realism is the goal, then it should apply to everyone. If balance is the goal, then it should be balanced fairly for everyone.
We hope Gaijin will take a serious look at these issues and consider balancing changes based on realistic performance data and fair gameplay rather than allowing one nation to dominate across multiple areas of the game.