War Thunder’s “Leviathans” Update Unveils Yamato, Badger & F-2A

On June 10, 2024, Gaijin Entertainment dropped its highly anticipated “Leviathans” update for War Thunder, delivering a sweeping overhaul to naval, ground, and air combat. This free content patch introduces three storied battleships—the Japanese Yamato, German Bismarck, and British Vanguard—alongside South Africa’s Badger IFV and Japan’s F-2A multirole fighter. Early beta tests already hint at a sea-change in tactics, player engagement, and unlock grind.

Naval Warfare Gets Monumental Blood

At Battle Ratings 7.0 through 9.0, the Yamato, Bismarck, and Vanguard bring authentic armor layouts and historically accurate main battery arrangements to the high seas. Each dreadnought is modeled down to the last rivet, from the Yamato’s massive 460 mm guns to Vanguard’s redesigned fire control systems. Gaijin’s naval team rebuilt buoyancy, shell dispersion, and damage models to ensure these capital ships feel as colossal—and as fragile—as they did in mid-20th-century battles.

• Yamato (BR 8.3): Balanced turrets, thick armor belt, and improved superstructure resilience.
• Bismarck (BR 8.7): Heavily armored bow, enhanced AA defenses, and tighter turning radius.
• Vanguard (BR 9.0): Advanced radar, reduced reload time on secondary batteries, and new smoke generator.

Ground Forces: Badger IFV Charges In

Rank VI ground battles now welcome South Africa’s Badger IFV, a versatile platform mounting a 30 mm Bushmaster autocannon, modular missile launchers compatible with Spike ATGMs, and next-gen thermal imaging. Its eight-wheeled chassis promises high mobility and rapid flank maneuvers, while custom ammo racks allow players to switch between APFSDS, HEI, and programmable airburst rounds on the fly. In testing, squads using coordinated flanking strikes saw a 15% uptick in win rates.

Air Supremacy: The F-2A Enters the Dogfight

At Rank VII, Japan’s indigenous F-2A fighter jet arrives with an AESA radar, enlarged composite wings, and Japan-built ASM-1/ASM-2 anti-ship missiles. Pilots gain access to overwater strike profiles, tighter turn rates at supersonic speeds, and refined countermeasure suites. According to Gaijin, closed-beta sorties recorded a 25% reduction in radar-lock times, making hit-and-run tactics against large naval targets both feasible and deadly.

Meta Shifts and Progression Grind

Gaijin’s press release highlights a 20% surge in naval match participation during beta phases, with new players drawn by the promise of capital-ship combat. Yet, this excitement comes with trade-offs. Unlocking a single battleship demands 40–60 hours of focused play—recipes of daily missions, arcade farming, and squad coordination. Critics argue this heightens the barrier for casual players, while veterans warn of widened matchmaking disparities in mixed-BR lobbies.

Community forums have lit up with suggestions to adjust research points requirements and expand co-op mission rewards. In response, Gaijin’s live service team teased future tweaks to reward curves, plus potential “elite login” events that double progress over weekends. Balancing depth of content with player accessibility remains Gaijin’s tightrope walk heading into Season 2024.

Looking Ahead

With “Leviathans,” War Thunder stakes its claim as one of the most comprehensive combined-arms war games on the market. The update not only bolsters the naval armada but also underscores Gaijin’s commitment to cross-domain integration—letting tank crews call in strafing runs while carrier groups intercept enemy jets. Players can now master three warfare environments in a single match.

As servers stabilize post-launch, the community eagerly awaits the developer livestream on June 20, where Gaijin will share live stats, reveal balance patches, and potentially unveil the next wave of ground vehicles and aircraft. Until then, admirals, gun crews, and fighter pilots have plenty to explore—and exploit—in the newly charted theaters of War Thunder’s “Leviathans.”

Source: Gaijin Entertainment press materials and community forums