[2022] Major Update: "Wind of Change" - Rumor Round-Up and Discussion

Given we haven't shown many blogs yet, we would like to keep some surprises

Yes, for fans of multiple nations ))

(But naturally everyone has different divinations of "long awaited")

Stay tuned on that front too.

Fixed that for you

Not today, 2 blogs and a trailer guys. The snail must also sleep and rest ))

Stock up well ))

On the back of 2 MiG-27s and the Su-22, dont expect another USSR/Russian jet attacker this update.

Not this time.

Not sure what the comparison here is for when your just listing the entirety of US top tier because they happen to also carry bombs or rockets. Most of these are fighters. You will note how im specifically talking about 3 top attack based aircraft added over the last few updates in a row for Russia. But if you want to compare that sort of grouping, lets:

So if we go back to my previous post you quoted and actually look at the dedicated attackers directly comparable to the 2 MiG-27s and Su-22 that I was originally referring too:

Russia already has two top potent strike aircraft added in the last couple of majors alone that align well with what's coming for the US. That's in addition to the Su-22 squadron vehicle.

Most US jets were by design multirole CAS, whereas Russian ones were not always. None the less, they have the 2 MiG-27s added most recently that match the A-10.

We don't give aircraft artificial boosts outside of Arcade.

Submit a historical report with your source based evidence if you believe its incorrect. But everything is based on historical performance.

More news will come closer to the time.

Other aircraft are confirmed yes ))

VTOL only and that's just for takeoff purposes. Otherwise it would basically not work in game ))

He's talking about flight performance (speed) buffs.

They will be removed from sale in the US/UK tree as we said. It's possible they may come in the future. But the trees going into CBT now.

Even if we did, it's known at this point we don't show everything on the first Dev stream / Dev server as not everything is immediately ready.

Indeed )

And I am here with "Why not to download all UHD textures at once?"

There is no Dev Server for Steam.

These are not bugs. Missiles are long established balance decided suggestions. Lots of aircraft in game could have AIM-9L and it will be decided by the devs.

F-104 ASA has already been shown.

No news about TOW-2A.

Weaponry is expanded over time. Right now there is nothing to confirm in that area with this update.

Britain's FGRs remain very close to the top of all jets currently and the Jaguar GR.1A was only recently added.

Challenger 2 BK is their main focus this update and its a substantial one at that right on the back of the TES.

Most nations have only 1-2 top competitive jets. Some don't even have that yet. The Harriers also remain very strong and there are several solid aircraft across the top BRs.

Its also worth noting there is nothing else top fighter wise Britain can get before we enter the realm of vehicles that multiple nations had and used together at the same time or variants of existing aircraft which mostly benefit from new missiles, which are not yet widespread in game.

They may be 2 years old, but the Phantoms have received a number of upgrades over that period and remain very potent. With further options open.

The MF was an event vehicle and has one of the worst performances statistically in the entire top bracket.

You are also comparing the US, who historically has more than 3-4x the number of jet aircraft to add to the UK. Who is much more limited.

We also do not have cluster bomb munitions of any kind in game yet. Challenger 2 is also not "the worst top tier MBT in the game". Factually the stats do not support that claim.

Check again what you asked:

You missed out the part that the current Phantoms, however agile they are or are not, still remain pretty close to the top. Britain is not in any dire need to receive a new top fighter yet. Particularly when its one, that as I have said, belongs to multiple nations at once. As you also admitted yourself, the Tornado is also not the "agile fighter" that you said is what's lacking. So this is not about an actual need, more just wanting something even better than what's already at the top and doing perfectly fine.

Welcome to the reality of the situation where the Phantom served for nearly 3 decades. There were no other interceptors during that time for Britain.

Its known and only on dev yes.

You asked if there was a Nato air-to-air fighter this patch. There is, the F-104 ASA.

Beyond that, we have said nothing further.

That does not contradict the fact we have not said anything or shown everything for this patch yet. So im not sure what your point is here.

Overlap always occurs, but we are talking specifically about when the Phantoms were at their prime like we have in game right now, there was nothing else besides them until Tornado. We already have the Lightning in game. So im not sure what the main point to be made is here.

Not at all. As we have already established, these are later than Phantoms we have and we have already answered why we don't have the Tornado right now. It also does not fill the "gap" Opps claimed existed anyway.

There are no other top British Interceptors that are not a step up over the Phantoms.

As with all missile weaponry, it will be decided on balance.

The countermeasure matter and gun removal have been reported. But need to be reviewed.

We literally still have the first one going on my dude.

Not this update.

We have already said there are no 4th Generation jets this update.

We always have vehicles that never make it to the 1st dev server or sometimes any dev servers before release. This is nothing new and not exclusive to France. All nations have had that. So lets not make it about that and be negative for negatives sake before we have even shown the whole update.

Nowhere was it said it was planned, but that it was considered.

First it requires validation and review by our consultants. Weaponry choices are also done with regards to balance.

We are aware of the countermeasure issue, but the fix also leads to a reduction to. So its hardly a positive change. But known.

Britain, France and Italy have their own aircraft and tanks to occupy those slots however. Whereas the entirety of Swedish top tier ground forces would have no helicopter support equal with other nations.

There is no need for a British F-5, no need for a French F-15 and Italy has its own tanks to occupy those areas. There will always be some gaps, but there is no reason to not provide the Swedish tree with something that they did test, but didn't adopt due to real world changing circumstances that blows a massive whole in their top tier without.

We have 10 nations in game now. Its very easy to get a Rank III or above heavy tank in them. Italy simply did not have heavy tanks outside of what it classified its own tanks domestically. Italy never had the Tiger or tested it with the same capacity Sweden did the Apache.

The comparison here between something critical for most top tier line-ups and something required to complete a task does not really compare. One is almost necessary for a solid line-up, the other can be completed with any nation.

This also has nothing to do with the topic.

There is no real reason not to provide something that is historical. Most of the vehicles in game were not adopted into service for one reason or another. The real world circumstantial situation of why the Apache was not adopted does not apply in game for the same reasons all other vehicles are also in game.

None the less, its very clear people have different opinions, which is the same for lend-lease, captured, prototypical and other trailed aircraft. The reality of the matter from a game perspective is this is just the same as all of those for the same or similar reasons.

We dont rule out other nations being included in other trees. But there is no need to override the Apache as a result.

4 Nations have or are going to have the same (Israel, Japan) or better variants (UK, USA) helicopter as their top helicopter. Germany have the upgraded Tiger with PARS and the USSR have the Ka-52 and Mi-28NM. France doesn't have any further options currently and Italy has some considerations.

Sweden's only option for a top tree helicopter is the Apache. We also as previously explained are not really making an exception that has not already been made for several nations.

Its not a mistake to bring everyone's helicopter tree into general parity for game balance. Especially since it follows existing additions of the same / similar nature.

One persons opinion on what they see as a mistake does not also make it the view of everyone else.

In those cases, they simply did not exist.

In this case, it very much did exist and was used by Swedish personnel in Swedish markings with a serious intent to be used fully. Real world circumstance cut that short, but as its obvious by the very nature of the game and the fact nations like Sweden participate in the game itself, real world circumstance is not really a factor here.

As I said just some time ago, we dont rule out nations also getting support from other nations. Most have already benefited from this (Italy's F-104S and G getting Turkish / European AIM-9Js for example) in some capacity.

None the less, I think its clear people hold differing opinions on this, as they do with most things. But this back and forth has really run its course in the topic now. The reason for the inclusion has been established now.

A good % of the vehicles in game were not adopted into service with the nations that have them. Only trailed. There is not really a good reason to artificially hamper Swedish top tier when a candidate exists that conforms to the existing measures of implementation in the game.

Many of the weaponry choices and tank shells in game follow suit. This really isn't a ground breaking factor.

Israel has a tree full of their own domestic tanks. The comparison is not really the same here with what would effectively be a massive gap and complete lack of a top tier helicopter. Which is not something the Israeli tree has to worry about over time.

Domestic production has never been a direct requirement.

All other nations with helicopters have something at that BR range. This is a viable solution to avoid what is indeed a massive unnecessary gap and clear lack of parity without breaking any existing precedents. A lack of a top rank helicopter in most ground forces line-ups can be substantial and something we are trying to work on for everyone. When its avoidable like this with a clear fitting candidate, there is no reason to not include it.

Again, your and others thoughts and opinions on this are very clear, respected and understood. Really isn't a need to keep this loop going a this stage as its been fully explained how and why.

Again, Israeli has its own tanks to cover itself. This comparison is not the same as the Swedish Apache.

As I said above. We are working on bringing all nations into parity. But this update is the Swedish tree.

There are no further Swedish helicopters this update. Thats what we can say for now.

Japan has IJN Kongo this update.

Really not going to repeat for the 3rd time how the comparison here is not the same as the Swedish helicopter situation.

Think its been discussed sufficiently and explained enough at this stage.

Not with this update currently.

Nothings been deleted by the moderators as far as I can see. Again the suggestion for one could indeed be made in the correct area. The main point was however its addition to the main tree itself is not directly comparable to the situation with the Apache. But feel free to make a suggestion for it if there is enough real grounding.

Hopefully people enjoy what is coming and what is still yet to come

France does not have any other options for a top helicopter currently. So its already got as close as it can and has a top tier helicopter at the very least. There is only so much we can do there when no other real options exist.

For Sweden however, there is a viable option, which is what it will receive. Because France has no current further option to match the Apaches, does not mean other nations should miss out on a top rank helicopter or have a massive gap in their tree.

No. The US has 2 x A-10s and the B-26s this update for aviation. The A-10 itself is a massive addition.

The point wasn't missed at all and the discussion really did not need to be necroed 4 hours later to really add nothing too again.

Without the Apache, the gap between Sweden's top tank and its next closest helicopter would be larger than any other nation and significantly further behind the capabilities of all other nations top helicopter. Indeed whilst the Tiger is not the best, its closer to the Apache as the HK9PA would be at 9.7 from all of the other top helicopters.

Its an entirely unnecessary and avoidable gap when a very obvious candidate exists that fits the criteria for consideration by the developers. One that as we have already said, other nations such as Italy have benefited from too with their Starfighters receiving Turkish / European operated AIM-9Js.

If you wish to suggest further French Helicopters or upgrades, please feel free to do so. The section is empty: https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/forum/1588-france/

This was already reported by one of the content creators. Its under investigation.

Not this patch. Like Japan, there isn't really enough there at the current time to make one viable or worthwhile.

Not with this patch I believe.

We never made any mention of when it was coming. The ELC is this update.

You can use the previous method. In the /content folder in your War Thunder directory you need to create 3 files file with .rq2 extension. You can select which UHD textures you want to download (to save disk space). To download all, create all 3 files.

pkg_uhq_aircraft.rq2


pkg_uhq_environment.rq2


pkg_uhq_vehicles.rq2

RNLAF

These are RNLAF F-104Gs and the reason why the Italian F-104G has AIM-9J.

The lock-on range against afterburning targets is a subject of investigation, but thats all as far as im aware. Nothing else has been reported.

As I just said, there is only one thing reported and under investigation. Nothing else has been reported.

Nobody is or will be forced to buy anything to progress.

Currently two are planned as per the blog:

There are 5 ships in the US line to research. Im not sure how you came to the conclusion you need to buy a premium when 5 ships are the requirement to progress and there are 5 in the standard tree for research.

Russia just got the MiG-21S last update and also already has the Yak-38 and Su-7BMK. No more are planned at this time at least for this update.

Both are changed. However the changes did not come from anything Wikipedia based. As others have already shared, these values are present in numerous primary manuals.

As far as im aware both will be changed based on source material.

Not this update.

Challenger 2 Black Knight is already a substantial addition and the main draw for the UK this patch.

The aircraft is already correct as a GR.1A with the 1Bs modifications being handled by a separate mod. A new c*ckpit is not planed this patch.

We haven't said there is nothing at all left to add for Japan. Only that its additions are limited and far less than others. Thus sometimes will have larger gaps in-between.

A 5 minute google search is one thing. Actually locating and finding all the required source material, visual evidence required to make the 3D models (measurements, drawings, blueprints, photos) as well as all the necessary performance data is an entirely different matter. The fact that you can find a candidate not yet in the game is quite simply the first and easiest step to be done. One that our developers have already likely done.

The actual significant and meaningful part is if its actually viably possible to obtain everything needed to our standards for implementation.

This was something that was highly requested by the Japanese ground forces community. We originally did not want to go down that road, believing not many people would want it. However community demand and suggestions proved it was the correct choice to take.

The number of vehicles suggested is rather meaningless in comparison to what is actually possible and plausible to implement. Because you can find 100 tanks that could be implemented, does not mean there are a 100, 50 or even 20 that can.

I think you need to take a step back and understand it is not just about suggesting something. You are not understanding the core barriers and limitations of what actually restricts how many vehicles can actually be implemented into the game as well as how much demand they have in the overall community.

Because most of those nations have generally 4-5x more vehicles to add on a whole, more accessible information, more resources available, more evidence to be used, more community demand and interest and more viable candidates for the game.

No attack was perceived here. I just please ask this off topic conversation be taken to a more suitable forum thread. This has nothing to do with the topic at hand.

All nations have additional bombs, rockets and ordinance options. Namely some down to the fact we don't have any of those types in game in any capacity currently (Cluster) and others because they have little to no realistic use. Britain or any other is not unique in that.

The issue of the GP/MC bombs is known and already underway.

Many historical related issues have been for the same or longer. We have over 2000+ vehicles in game and each historical issue requires consultation and validation by our historical consultants.

You misread the first part or didn't read the first part of that sentence that was referring to that type of weaponry:

The second part was not in relation to BL755.

This is an entirely open ended question with no specifics at all. What planes? What bombs? What reports?

Again this is not the place to discuss this at all.

The developers had sufficient information to implement that. Whataboutism is really also not going to achieve nothing here.

Nobody has said none of these vehicles cannot be implemented. But again, making a list is pretty meaningless and proves nothing. Anyone can do that part.

Also worth noting a detailed suggestion topic =/= automatically viable for implementation. Suggestion topics meet the bare minimum required to be considered for implementation.

Again. None of this was said anywhere. It feels like you either misread or misinterpreted what was said here. All of which has no relation to this topic and seems like just going off on a bit of a tangent.

No please do not ignore what was previously said and use this topic when its not the place to do so. If you wish to report an issue or historical matter for that fact, please use the correct section: https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/forum/1957-weapons-and-ordnance/

This topic is not the place.

Where has it been said that all the documentation has been provided? Not only this, but I have explained just a few post ago in detail why Japan generally receives few additions to larger nations.

The evidence offered in many of these cases as a suggestion or forum topic. Both of which do not contain everything required to actually implement something. You have indeed missed several previous explanations of this, on this very page.

Every single nation in game has suggestions going on 1, 2, 5 or in some cases even 10 years now. Just this update, we are introducing the B-26 bomber for the US. That's been a common suggestion since 2012/13.

At this stage, it has been explained several times. Any further off topic after two warnings now will be actioned.

Unless you want your birthday to be your last one ))

Not this patch.

We already said most of the variants that are existing gift vehicles won't immediately be in the tree as we are focusing on new variants. We dont rule them out later down the line in some way.

We already said not to expect new British jets this update. So please take the off topic elsewhere.

This ain't Cusine Royale my dude.

This loadout was tested on the existing aircraft in game too. So it's possible to just add it here.

AFAIK it came from one of the forum reports. Either way, it's handled by a modification.

Not today.

We've already said there will be two.

You can see my post for yourself, before my words start getting twisted here:

We have already said not all vehicles are ready and present on the dev servers. Its happened almost every patch and nothing new.

BVV also answered this on the stream.

The FGR.2 was not ready before live. The MiG-21 variants were not ready before live and countless others. Its unfortunately part of development and over a period of time, not everything can be ready in time for dev servers.

We don't show vehicles until they are finished from a 3D perspective and configured the way we need them to be for ordinance and renders. That's not new at all and well established now.

Your personal opinion is of course respected, however nothing is being rushed. We do not shape our update schedules around dev servers. We schedule them around content availability and when we can synchronise our releases across platforms, around our scheduled events plan and other core factors. All content is worked on all the way up to release.

Stop leaking our Space Program comrade

This is incorrect. You are confusing the FG.1 and FGR.2. The FGR.2 was the one that was not available on the devs servers and that was a brand new model at the time. Not a copy paste. The FG.1 which came much later was on the dev servers.

Neither of these things are correct or relevant as to why vehicles may not be ready for dev servers.

As we previously said, its not uncommon every update for vehicles to be worked on and not be on dev servers. This isn't new.

Again, this has already happened. Phantom FGR.2, MiG-21SMT/MF and many, many others. People are looking a little too deeply into reasons why somethings not on dev yet. However it happens almost every update.

Yes and it is doing exactly that. Not just for one single aircraft. This update has a lot more than that in many significant ways.

FGR.2 was not even available to see on the dev servers. It was added and seen properly for the first time when the update went live. Just like the MiG-21 variants.

Let me just crush that dream and say there is approximately a 0% chance of that this patch.

Not earlier than rank IV.

Right now we are not adding AIM-9L or any further all aspects to other jets. AIM-9L is coming on the A-10 and F-104S ASA only for the time being.

We will monitor the stats of other vehicles and decide based on balance.

Both are performing reasonably well at this time. If I remember correctly the EJ Kai also never had the F.