War Thunder's 'Spearhead' Update: Dozens of New Vehicles Arrive Alongside Critical Naval Rework

Despite stiff competition from newer titles, Gaijin Entertainment’s free-to-play combat simulator, War Thunder, continues to be one of the most-played games on the platform. The 'Spearhead' update provides compelling reasons for players to return, offering a wealth of new content and game adjustments.

New Arsenal and Map Upgrades

The 'Spearhead' Update introduces a massive influx of new assets, including:

• Nine new ground vehicles (e.g., the French EBRC Jaguar light tank, British Chieftain 900, and Chinese CM34).

• Twelve new planes (including the unique Dutch WWII Fokker D.XXIII and a trio of British bombers).

• Five new helicopters.

• Thirteen new ships (such as the USS Oregon City and the IJN Nagato super-dreadnought).

A standout addition is the AH-56 Cheyenne, the game's first compound helicopter. It boasts the fixed wings of a plane and is armed with a diverse array of weapons, including 'Mighty Mouse' rockets, TOW missiles, a 30mm cannon, and a choice between an M129 grenade launcher and a 7.62 minigun.

In addition to the vehicles, the Stalingrad and Carpathians maps have received significant graphical and asset overhauls. While their core layouts remain intact, Stalingrad now features refreshed textures and new environmental details like ice and snow, and the Carpathians map has seen all of its assets completely redesigned.

Naval Warfare: Fixing the Repair Exploit

The most impactful change is the naval battle upgrade, introducing the 'damage control' mechanic. This feature allows players to assign three different action presets—firefighting, module repair, and water pumping—which replace the standard manual repair system. When damage occurs, the crew automatically carries out these actions as quickly as capacity allows.

While players still have the option to switch back to the old system, the update removes the ability to benefit from intentionally neglecting repairs. Gaijin acknowledges that this might be seen as lowering player agency, but stresses that the change was necessary "in favor of fairer gameplay across the board, and rewarding the active player in the engagement." Furthermore, Anti-aircraft (AA) guns have been balanced with lowered range and accuracy.

Quality of Life Additions

The update also includes two major quality-of-life (QoL) improvements:

• Training Missions: New tutorials have been added to the menu, providing assistance for learning how to use flares and guided bombs.

• Daily Universal Backups: A new feature that grants players five Daily Universal Backups. These can be used directly in battles to respawn any lost vehicle, regardless of mode or vehicle type. Players should note that these backups do not stack if unused.

The War Thunder: Spearhead Update is live now and available to play for free on Steam.