This WW2 MMO wants War Thunder’s players and Hell Let Loose’s boots — can Brass Rain deliver?

Why Brass Rain actually matters

Brass Rain is pitching the WW2 game many of us have been asking for: authentic, large-scale combined arms where infantry, tanks, ships, and aircraft share the same battlefield. It’s from Yarnhub-the military-focused animation studio with more than 2.5 million YouTube subscribers-and it’s already raised over $2.9M on Kickstarter. The promise is cinematic presentation, historically accurate gear, and a free-to-play Early Access launch on Steam in 2026. If they land this, it could finally bridge the gap between vehicle sims like War Thunder and infantry-focused milsims like Hell Let Loose. If they miss, it’s another F2P grind with great trailers and empty servers. That’s why this announcement caught my attention.

Key takeaways

• Combined arms MMO with air, land, and sea; PvE and PvP blended across famous WW2 theaters.
• Yarnhub’s “cinematic” angle includes bespoke history videos framing each major update.
• Early Access planned for 2026 on Steam; free-to-play with “low-cost cosmetic microtransactions.”
• Backed by a sizable community ($2.9M+ on Kickstarter), but first-time studio risk looms large.

Breaking down the pitch

Yarnhub says Brass Rain is built around authenticity: historically accurate weapons and uniforms, period-correct scenarios, and design that aims to feel “slow and weighty” without turning into a museum piece. Expect scenarios spanning the beaches of Normandy to the skies over Japan, with roles across infantry squads, armor crews, naval gunners, and bomber teams. The loop blends PvE (AI and scripted objectives) and PvP to hit that “you’re in a war movie” vibe their community already loves.

The studio’s head of games, Cyril Barrow, frames it like this: “Brass Rain isn’t just a game, it’s a living historical experience shaped by the millions who watch our films every month… Our community challenged us to go beyond what games like War Thunder and World of Tanks offer, by adding the one thing they’ve always wanted: boots-on-the-ground infantry.” That’s a savvy read. War Thunder is unmatched for vehicles but doesn’t do infantry; World of Tanks is laser-focused on armor. The gap is real-and Enlisted tried to fill it, but progression and monetization rubbed many the wrong way.

Why this hits a nerve in 2025’s shooter landscape

We’re in a weird spot: premium shooters like Hell Let Loose deliver tense infantry combat with limited vehicles, while War Thunder offers deep-dive aviation and armor without soldiers in the mix. Battlefield flirted with WW2 but prioritized accessibility over purism. There’s a genuine hunger for a historically grounded, combined-arms sandbox that feels cohesive rather than stitched together. If Brass Rain can make a bomber run matter to the grunts holding a bridge—and vice versa—that’s the “aha” moment most WW2 games miss.

The “cinematic history” approach is also smart. Framing updates with custom videos that explain the personalities, tactics, and stakes could keep events from feeling like recycled map rotations. If you’ve watched Yarnhub’s videos, you know they can sell a moment. The question is whether that cinematic flair translates into systemic depth: logistics that matter, command and VOIP tools that actually get used, and objectives that create emergent stories instead of chaotic meat grinders.

The big risks no trailer can hide

Let’s be blunt: building an MMO-grade combined-arms shooter is brutally hard. Server performance with large player counts, netcode that keeps infantry and aircraft synced, and anti-cheat that doesn’t collapse in a F2P environment—these are the problems that chew up studios with a decade of experience. $2.9M is impressive for a Kickstarter, but it’s a fraction of what a live-service shooter costs to build and maintain. Yarnhub’s YouTube following is a strong foundation, but converting viewers into a stable, paying player base is a different challenge entirely.

Then there’s monetization. “Lowest-cost cosmetic microtransactions” sounds great, but historical authenticity limits what you can sell. No neon skins. That means tasteful camos, unit patches, helmet nets, nose art—cool, but niche. Free-to-play war games live or die on economies, and we’ve watched others get roasted when progression or pricing changes. If Brass Rain stays cosmetic-only, they’ll need scale. If convenience creeps in (boosters, premium queues), the community will notice. I’m hopeful but skeptical until we see a real store and progression plan.

What gamers should watch before Early Access

• Real player counts in public playtests: are we talking 100, 200, or “hundreds” in marketing only?
• Combined-arms interactions: can infantry actually counter armor and aircraft in meaningful ways, or do they get farmed?
• PvE design: are AI and co-op objectives smart onboarding tools or filler that dilute PvP?
• Economy specifics: battle pass, drop rates, and whether “cosmetic-only” truly stays cosmetic.
• Command and comms: in-game VOIP, squad tools, and leadership systems that encourage teamwork.
• Content cadence: those bespoke history videos are great—do major updates hit regularly enough to keep lobbies full?

I want Brass Rain to succeed because the pitch targets a real gap. The trailer’s heavy recoil and slower pacing signal respect for the period. The historical framing could elevate seasonal updates beyond the usual “new map, new gun” treadmill. But none of that replaces the need for rock-solid tech and a fair, sustainable economy. If Yarnhub can marry their cinematic chops to reliable systems—and resist the quick-cash traps that sink F2P shooters—we might finally get the WW2 sandbox that feels as big as the war itself.

TL;DR

Brass Rain promises a free-to-play, cinematic WW2 MMO with air, land, and sea roles, backed by a huge audience and a $2.9M Kickstarter. I’m excited by the combined-arms focus and wary of the usual F2P pitfalls. Watch for real player counts, smart PvE, and honest monetization before 2026 Early Access.