The recent decision by Gaijin to remove the R2Y2 series from War Thunder is a significant blow to the Japanese tech tree (TT). These aircraft are not only historically significant but also fill an essential role in Japan’s close air support (CAS) capabilities, which will be almost nonexistent after their removal.
Loss of Unique Domestic CAS Aircraft
With the removal of the R2Y2’s, Japan will be left without any domestic CAS planes in the mid-to-high ranks. This is a serious issue for players who enjoy ground battles and rely on these aircraft to support their teams. War Thunder has long struggled with balancing Japan’s CAS options, and removing these planes only worsens the situation.
Players fear that instead of introducing unique, historically relevant replacements, Gaijin will likely add yet another copy-paste (C&P) aircraft that lacks any historical connection to Japan’s indigenous aviation development.
A Decision That Feels Unnecessary
From what I’ve seen, there hasn’t been a strong demand for the removal of the R2Y2’s, especially from those who regularly play the Japanese tech tree. If the concern is balance or realism, there are other ways to handle it without outright deleting three aircraft that add variety and uniqueness.
Instead of removing them completely, Gaijin could explore balancing adjustments, BR changes, or performance tweaks to make them fit better within the game. Taking them out entirely feels like an extreme and unnecessary solution.
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The Shrinking of the Japanese Tech Tree
The most alarming impact of this removal is the severe reduction of unique Japanese aircraft in the tech tree:
- Before the change, there were 5 unique Japanese aircraft in Rank V.
- After the removal of the R2Y2’s, that number drops to only 2.
- Looking beyond Rank V, Japan has a limited number of indigenous aircraft designs in higher ranks. With this update, only 4 unique Japanese designs remain from Rank V to Rank VIII.
This change highlights a larger problem: Gaijin rarely adds new, unique Japanese aircraft. Japan’s aviation industry had many experimental and late-war designs that could be introduced into the game. Instead of expanding the tech tree, they are actively shrinking it by removing domestic planes.
A Pattern of Neglect Towards Japan?
This is not the first time the Japanese tech tree has been neglected. Compared to other nations, Japan receives fewer updates, fewer unique vehicles, and is often overlooked in balance discussions. The removal of the R2Y2’s continues this trend, further weakening an already underrepresented faction.
If Gaijin truly values historical accuracy and gameplay diversity, they should reconsider this decision and focus on expanding Japan’s aviation tree instead of shrinking it.
I Know They Are Paper Planes, But They Still Matter
One of the common arguments for removing the R2Y2 series is that they are “paper planes”—aircraft that were never fully built or tested in real life. While it’s true that the R2Y2’s remained experimental, War Thunder already features many prototype and conceptual aircraft across multiple nations. Removing these planes specifically from Japan’s tech tree while allowing other nations to keep their experimental designs feels inconsistent and unfair.
Additionally, the R2Y2’s are not overpowered or game-breaking—they fill an important niche role that Japan desperately needs. If balance is the concern, adjusting BRs or tweaking flight characteristics would be a much better solution than outright removal.
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Final Thoughts: Keep the R2Y2’s in the Game!
The removal of the R2Y2 series is an unnecessary and damaging change to the Japanese tech tree. It eliminates vital CAS capabilities to only one vehicle, drastically reduces the number of unique indigenous aircraft, and shrinks an already struggling Rank V lineup.
If War Thunder wants to maintain tech tree diversity, historical accuracy, and a fair gameplay experience for all nations, then removing the R2Y2’s is not the answer.
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