I’m genuinely disappointed with the recent direction of War Thunder’s map design. The developers increasingly seem to take naturally interesting, playable terrain—such as hills, rocks, and varied elevation—and fill or block it with artificial vertical barriers and impassable rock formations. Instead of encouraging dynamic movement and tactical use of terrain, this approach flattens the gameplay experience into narrow corridors and predictable lanes.
What used to feel like combined-arms combat across three-dimensional battlefields is slowly turning into something that resembles a two-dimensional arena, almost like a modern Pac-Man map. The freedom to flank, climb, or creatively use the environment is being replaced by invisible walls and rigid boundaries that restrict player choice.
This design philosophy is especially frustrating because War Thunder has always stood out for its scale and potential realism. By over-restricting movement and simplifying terrain, the game loses part of what made it unique in the first place. Instead of evolving into richer battlefield simulation, it feels like it’s becoming more constrained and less immersive.
Overall, it’s a disappointing trend for what is otherwise a great game with a lot of potential.