War Thunder Now Regretting Attempt to Become More Pay to Win

The free-to-play game War Thunder has experienced a significant surge in review bombing due to recent changes made to its in-game economy. These revisions aimed to make gameplay even more challenging for those unwilling to spend real money. The community has vehemently expressed its discontent with these modifications. Gaijin, the developer and publisher of War Thunder, had initially informed players about upcoming alterations to the game's economy, which would have substantially hindered progression without real-world transactions. Players have noticed a growing reliance on the premium currency, Golden Eagles, in order to make any meaningful progress in the game. This shift prompted a wave of negative Steam reviews, reflecting players' dissatisfaction.

The community was particularly frustrated by the reduced amount of in-game currency (Silver Lions) and Research Points earned from matches, even when utilizing premium accounts and vehicles that require real money. Eventually, in response to overwhelming feedback from players, Gaijin pledged to reverse the planned economy changes. However, the game continued to receive an influx of negative reviews on Steam, highlighting the discontent among long-time players. Some players even collaborated on an open letter, outlining the specific changes they desired to see in the game.

Acknowledging the backlash, Gaijin took the first step of canceling the proposed alterations to address player concerns regarding the in-game economy and its increasing emphasis on real-world purchases over time. They launched a survey to gather player opinions, giving them an opportunity to influence the game's future direction. Although Gaijin intends to introduce a major economic overhaul in War Thunder's upcoming summer update based on the survey results, players remain skeptical and critical of the developer's intentions. Gaijin's creative director, Kirill Yudintsev, authored an article explaining the workings of free-to-play game economies, but players criticized it for failing to acknowledge their understanding of the model and expressed frustration with the developer's changes.

In response to the review bombing, Gaijin emphasized that such actions damage the game's reputation and deter potential new players, while failing to effectively communicate the issues players have identified. Nonetheless, the extensive negative feedback from the community, evident in forum discussions, Reddit threads, and Steam reviews, has compelled Gaijin to reconsider how War Thunder's economy will operate, signaling the likelihood of further adjustments in the future.

This article is written by Gaurav Advit.