War Thunder Reveals Sky Odyssey as Its Next Major Update

Gaijin Entertainment has officially revealed Sky Odyssey, the next major update heading to War Thunder. Announced through a new trailer released on September 3, the update promises another broad expansion of the military combat game, with additional aircraft, helicopters, ground vehicles, naval vessels, locations and mechanical improvements being prepared for its launch.

The initial trailer announcement is deliberately brief and does not provide a release date or complete content list. However, the developer’s recent previews confirm that Sky Odyssey will extend far beyond a conventional vehicle drop. Alongside its new machines, the update is expected to introduce significant changes to bomber survivability, aircraft displays, kill attribution and several existing maps.

As its title suggests, aviation appears to occupy an important position within the update. Nevertheless, War Thunder’s combined-arms structure remains intact, with confirmed additions covering air, ground and naval technology from several historical periods.

The AW159 Wildcat brings a new missile platform to Britain

One of the most advanced aircraft confirmed for the update is the AW159 Wildcat HMA2, which will join the British helicopter research tree at Rank VII. Developed as a modern successor to the Lynx family, the Wildcat combines a relatively compact profile with strong mobility, modern defensive systems and an unusually broad selection of guided weapons.

Its most striking loadout allows it to carry as many as 20 Martlet missiles simultaneously. These laser beam-riding weapons are primarily intended for attacking lighter ground vehicles, helicopters, air-defense systems and naval targets. They are unlikely to be the optimal answer against heavily armored main battle tanks, but their quantity should let Wildcat pilots engage numerous softer targets during a single sortie.

The helicopter will also have access to the Spike NLOS, a more powerful guided missile intended for precision attacks against armored vehicles. This gives the Wildcat two clearly differentiated combat roles: it can either overwhelm lighter targets with a large Martlet payload or use its Spike missiles to threaten more resilient opponents from a safer position.

According to Gaijin, the Wildcat will be best employed as a mobile ambush platform. Its speed and agility should allow pilots to approach from the sides of the battlefield, attack exposed targets and relocate before enemy anti-aircraft systems can respond effectively.

Japan receives a heavily armed wartime attacker

Sky Odyssey will not focus exclusively on modern aviation. The Japanese research tree is receiving the Ki-93-I Ko, a rare twin-engine aircraft developed during the closing stages of the Second World War.

The Ki-93 will arrive as a Rank III attacker armed with a 57 mm Ho-402 cannon, two 20 mm Ho-5 cannons and a rear-facing 12.7 mm machine gun. It can also carry two 250 kg bombs when deployed against ground targets.

Its main cannon is expected to define the aircraft’s playstyle. The 57 mm weapon can fire both high-explosive and armor-piercing high-explosive ammunition, making it dangerous against bombers as well as the roofs and sides of armored vehicles. Its high projectile velocity should provide better long-range performance than the weapon mounted on the existing Ki-102.

That firepower is balanced by the Ki-93’s considerable weight. It will not behave like a conventional single-engine fighter and is unlikely to perform well in extended turning engagements. Instead, players will need to plan their attacks, preserve energy and use the aircraft’s speed to disengage after each firing pass.

The Ki-93-I Ko will be placed after the B7A2 in Japan’s regular research tree, giving the nation a dedicated lower-rank attacker capable of supporting both Air and Ground Battles.

New firepower for the ground and naval battlefields

Tank commanders will be able to reinforce their Chinese lineups with the PLZ45, a premium Rank IV self-propelled gun. Its primary weapon is a long-barreled 155 mm howitzer capable of firing standard high-explosive rounds, proximity-fused HE ammunition and semi-armor-piercing shells.

The PLZ45 combines relatively good mobility with substantial explosive firepower, but it is protected by light armor and does not possess a laser rangefinder. Successful players will therefore need to understand range estimation and enemy weak points rather than relying on automated targeting assistance. A well-placed shell should be devastating, although missed shots and poor positioning could leave the vehicle vulnerable during its reload.

The American ground research tree is also receiving the M7, an unusual tank originally conceived as a light vehicle before gradually increasing in weight and capability. In War Thunder, the M7 is intended to occupy the space between traditional light and medium tanks, combining respectable mobility with a stabilized 75 mm gun, smoke grenades and sufficient versatility for flanking or supporting friendly advances.

Naval players have not been overlooked. The Italian Bluewater fleet will welcome the Rank VI premium battleship RN Giulio Cesare. A member of the Conte di Cavour class, the vessel carries ten 320 mm guns supported by a varied anti-aircraft battery.

Although its main shells have less explosive filler than those of some contemporary battleships, their high penetration should make the Giulio Cesare dangerous at longer distances. Its ammunition storage is positioned below the waterline, providing improved protection against catastrophic detonations. The ship lacks air-detection radar, but its 100 mm dual-purpose guns and smaller anti-aircraft weapons should still offer a measure of protection against attacking aircraft.

Bombers are being made harder to destroy

One of the most important systemic changes accompanying the next update concerns bomber damage models. Gaijin has acknowledged that bombers can currently suffer fatal structural failures after relatively limited damage, particularly when a few fragments strike critical sections of the airframe.

To address the problem, the developer has recalculated hit zones and adjusted the behavior of fuselages, engines, wing spars, tail assemblies and other structural elements. Separate configurations have been created for piston-driven aircraft with different engine layouts and for jet bombers, which require different damage calculations.

The changes should make it considerably more difficult to remove an entire wing through imprecise fire. Attackers will instead be encouraged to target engines, fuel tanks and crew positions, while ammunition type will have a greater influence on the damage inflicted.

Aircraft derived from bomber airframes will receive related adjustments. This includes the A-26 Invader and Pe-3 families, alongside aircraft such as the Su-8, Tu-1, TIS-MA and Ju 388 J.

These revisions will not make bombers indestructible. Accurate fire against vulnerable components can still bring them down, and onboard fires will remain a serious threat. The objective is to require more deliberate attacks instead of allowing limited fragmentation damage to cause immediate structural failure.

Cockpit systems receive additional functionality

Aircraft interiors are also being expanded with new Multi-Function Display pages and improved Helmet-Mounted Displays. The Ka-52 will receive dedicated compass, flight-instrument, weapon and radar screens, while radar pages are being prepared for several other aircraft families.

These additions include the MiG-21 series, the F-104 family, Japan’s T-2 and F-1, and the Mirage F1 family. Gaijin has indicated that a complete list will be published when the update is released.

Several aircraft will receive new or enhanced helmet displays as well. The RAH-66 is getting its Kaiser HMD, the Chinese JH-7A2 and J-11 will receive helmet-mounted systems, and the American VTAS implementation will gain target-lock and radar-warning indicators around the aiming circle.

Darwin Hill expands the map rotation

Sky Odyssey will introduce Darwin Hill, a new Ground Battles location based on the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic. Its environment features open plains, rocky coastlines, farm buildings, piers and small settlements inspired by the region surrounding Darwin.

Existing locations are receiving attention as well. Red Desert is being reworked to reduce the dominance of elevated firing positions and provide better protection around spawn areas. The central objective in Domination mode will be placed inside a natural depression, shifting that part of the map toward closer engagements.

The Falkland Islands and Afghanistan air maps are also receiving visual overhauls. Both will benefit from upgraded terrain detail and reworked surface textures, while the Falklands map will use a more accurate heightmap developed alongside the new ground location.

A practical change to kill attribution

The next major update will extend War Thunder’s vehicle-abandonment reward system to Ground and Naval Battles. When a player deliberately leaves a tank or ship, the game will search for the closest eligible enemy or incoming munition and assign partial kill credit when appropriate.

The detection radius will be three kilometers for ground vehicles and 20 kilometers for ships. Eligible munitions include rockets, missiles, bombs, torpedoes and mines. As in Air Battles, the credited player will receive half of the normal kill reward.

This system is intended to prevent players from denying an opponent’s reward by abandoning a vehicle immediately before an incoming attack lands.

Gaijin has not yet announced exactly when Sky Odyssey will be released, and individual vehicle specifications remain subject to revision before launch. Even so, the confirmed material already points to a substantial update: new machines for every major branch of combat, a long-requested bomber rework, improved aviation interfaces and several notable map changes. Further vehicle and feature announcements are expected before the full update arrives.

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