World of Tanks News

Commanders!

Welcome to Battle Pass Season IX, taking place from September 8th through November 30th.

Start off with a Chapter of your choosing, then complete the Stages one by one to enter a world of excellent rewards. This Season, these include progressive 3D styles for the Season IX Core Vehicles: the 60TP Lewandowskiego, the Progetto M40 mod. 65, and the AMX 13 105 (the first-ever light tank in a Battle Pass lineup). Keep in mind that this will be the last season of Battle Pass in 2022, which means you have to spend all your Battle Pass Tokens before they are reset. Luckily, there are plenty of valuable rewards on offer. Do you have a Cobra yet? Want some more rare Tier IX vehicles for your Garage? Well, this is your chance!

[h3]Battle Pass Season IX[/h3]

EU: September 8 at 07:00 CEST (UTC+2) through November 30 at 01:30 CET (UTC+1)
NA: September 8 at 03:00 PT | 05:00 CT | 06:00 ET through November 29 at 23:30 PT | November 30 at 01:30 CT | 02:30 ET.
ASIA: September 8 at 03:00 UTC+8 through November 29 at 02:00 UTC+8

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[UPDATED] 07/09/2022

Taking the discussion on the matter into consideration, we’ve decided NOT to make Personal Reserves from Season IX Base rewards time-limited after Update 1.18.1. Therefore, ALL Personal Reserves you obtain as Battle Pass Season IX rewards will have no expiration date, whether you collect them before or after 1.18.1 hits.

Regarding time-limited Personal Reserves in general, we will introduce them as an in-game entity with Update 1.18.1. Yet we have no plans to use them in in-game activities in foreseeable future.

Once the new mechanics are introduced, all Personal Reserves on your account will be converted into the new reserves at no loss of value. Expect a dedicated article on the new Personal Reserves in the coming days.

[h2]The Rewards[/h2]

If you played the previous two Battle Pass Seasons of 2022, you know the drill: Earn Battle Pass Points and complete Stages to receive rewards. Start with any Chapter and switch between Chapters as often as you wish without losing your progress. If you would like more comprehensive instructions or just want to know every single detail about Season IX, check out the full guide.

TO THE FULL GUIDE

The mountain of Battle Pass Season IX prizes is already towering high, but you can make it even taller by obtaining an Improved Pass.

Soon, we will announce all of the improvements we’re going to make to the mechanics and UI of Personal Reserves. But for now, here are the key changes:

• All Personal Reserves will have a duration of one hour.
  
• Personal Reserves for Crew XP and Free XP will be merged into a single combined type. (This also applies to Season IX progression rewards.)
  
• Along with the three types of Personal Reserves, there will be two grades of bonuses: Standard (+50% to XP / +50% to credits / +200% to Crew and Free XP) and Improved (+100% to XP / +100% to credits / +300% to Crew and Free XP).
  
• Newly-issued Standard Personal Reserves, including those from Season IX Base Rewards, will have an expiration date (one month after Season IX ends), but Improved Personal Reserves will not.

Once the new mechanics are introduced, all Personal Reserves on your account will be converted into the new reserves at no loss of value. Personal Reserves that are collected as Season IX Base Rewards before the implementation of the new mechanics will not have expiration dates after being converted. Moreover, Personal Reserves that come as Improved Rewards will never have expiration dates.

You can expect a dedicated article on the new Personal Reserves mechanics in the coming days.

[h2]The 3D Styles[/h2]

The Season IX 3D styles give the Core Vehicles a cutting-edge appearance, bristling with innovation.

• The Bernard 3D style for the 60TP Lewandowskiego turns this tough tank into a truly stylish moving stronghold.
  
• The Cesare 3D style for the Progetto M40 mod. 65 makes this sharpshooter look even sharper.
  
• The Le Vizir 3D style for the AMX 13 105 gives this nimble-yet-dangerous reconnaissance vehicle a hi-tech visual upgrade.
  

[h3]60TP Lewandowskiego[/h3]



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[h3]Progetto M40 mod. 65[/h3]



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[h3]AMX 13 105[/h3]



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[h2]The Crew Members[/h2]

Three skilled crew members will join your side once you complete their respective Chapters in Battle Pass Season IX. Each of these new crew members is inspired by heroic tales from 20th century history. Their looks are all based on talented, real people from our development team who work hard to create new and legendary content for World of Tanks.


[h2]The 2D Styles[/h2]

These Season IX reward 2D styles can fit on any vehicle and are sure to look great!

[h3]"Firing Range Target (AP)" 2D style [/h3]



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[h3]"Firing Range Target (HEAT)" 2D style [/h3]



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[h3]"Firing Range Target (HE)" 2D style[/h3]



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[h2]The Cobra[/h2]

Here comes a very rare reptile that will happily feed on your opponents’ tears. But all jokes aside, this British Tier IX medium tank featuring an autoloader that can be packed with HESH shells has already proven itself in many battles. Get it before Season IX ends! If you already have the Cobra in your Garage, consider claiming some of the other great rewards offered for Battle Pass Tokens, including Tier IX vehicles and trophy equipment.



[h2]The Bundles[/h2]

The in-game Store will offer the following thematic bundles for the duration of Season IX:

• The Battle Pass: Full Access bundle gives you access to Improved Rewards for all three Battle Pass Chapters.
  
• The Battle Pass: Daily Gold bundle also unlocks Improved Rewards for all three Chapters, plus a special mission for gold.
  
• The Battle Pass: Reinforcements bundle contains a female crew member and a sequence of missions with Battle Pass Points, bonds, and Crew Books as rewards.
  

Let’s make our mark on Battle Pass Season IX, Commanders!

The Outpost is the latest location to appear in the game. Although this map is brand new, it may already be familiar to many curious tankers who took part in Recon Mission 2021, in which Outpost became a fan favorite. Now it's here to stay with improved visuals, fine-tuned gameplay, and a powerful soundtrack. Let’s look, learn, and listen!

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[h2]Enjoy the Views[/h2]

During Recon Mission 2021, the focus was mainly on the gameplay of Outpost. However, over this last year, our art team has done their best to scale up the appearance of the map and give it more character. Thanks to all of the new special details, we were able to give Outpost a look that fits more closely with its approximate location in Central Europe (with maybe a slight turn to the East). Check out the map’s vistas below.



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[h2]Play in Various Ways[/h2]

Outpost is a summer map with lots of open space. It has multiple gameplay zones, allowing every vehicle type to shine and every tactical approach to be tried out. Each zone has its own unique landscape and special objects so you always know where you are on the map. The main landmark is the castle on a hill, which dominates the entire location.

[h2]Hear the Story[/h2]

The Outpost soundtrack really highlights its location somewhere in “Central-to-Eastern” Europe. The theme is based on a traditional song called “Ederlezi” and it starts with solo vocals—in our vision, those of a young girl who holds an old music box and reminisces about her grandmother. The symphonic orchestra (especially the percussion section) and the folk choir spin this story into a powerful and moving tale.

Go check out everything this new map has to offer, Commanders!

Commanders!

Update 1.18 for World of Tanks is here, and it is our biggest update of 2022. This update introduces brand-new Italian tank destroyers with a non-standard autoloader and a fresh Random Battles map called Outpost. We have also updated the vehicle performance of a number of tanks and improved a large pool of locations for Random Battles. But that's not all! Get ready for important matchmaking changes for light vehicles and SPGs, reworked visuals for destroyed vehicle tracks, and other cool features. Enjoy!



[h2]New Branch: Here Come the Italian Tank Destroyers![/h2]

The Italian tank destroyers are ready to storm World of Tanks! This new branch will consist of six researchable vehicles, from Tier V to Tier X. All of these vehicles feature decent frontal armor and great gun depression angles, perfect for mid-range or close combat. Most importantly, the Tier VII–X vehicles are equipped with a rather unusual autoloader. These unpredictable warriors are sure to spice up your gameplay, so check them out below!

READ ARTICLE



[h2]Massive Vehicle Rebalancing[/h2]

We have updated the characteristics of a number of vehicles from different nations, tiers, and types, including two Tier X tanks: the Kranvagn and the AMX M4 mle. 54. We have also adjusted the battle characteristics of the Emil II, AMX 65 t, T29, M44, TVP VTU Koncept, CS-44, and many other vehicles. Depending on how these vehicles were performing against other vehicles in their tier, we have improved or reduced their effectiveness in battle.

LEARN MORE



[h2]New Map: Outpost[/h2]

A new map is making its debut in Random Battles. This is Outpost! Take a look at this picturesque summer map, which combines open green areas with city ruins and trenches, as well as an impressive fortress with an outpost of its own. This winning location of the first Season of Recon Mission boasts diverse visuals and exciting gameplay. Enjoy the views from this new location and explore its battle directions!



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[h2]Map Balance Improvements[/h2]

We are continuing to work on improving Random Battles maps and adjusting a total of 14 locations. The most extensive changes have been made to the following six maps: Berlin, Himmelsdorf, Pearl River, Murovanka, Redshire, and Glacier. In addition, we have made minor improvements to 8 other maps. Learn more about the gameplay changes in our dedicated article!

DETAILS



[h2]Matchmaking Changes[/h2]

To improve your battle experience, we have decided to introduce new rules for balancing light and wheeled tanks. The matchmaker will now be stricter when assigning light tanks to teams and will always try to ensure that both teams have an identical number of light tanks in each battle. There will also be a limit of 1 wheeled tank per team. To help enforce these changes, we are also introducing a limit of no more than one Tier VII–X light/wheeled tank in a Platoon.

There are also important changes regarding the number of SPGs per team. Now, the majority of battles will have between 0–2 SPGs on each team. With that, the matchmaker will keep the number of battles with 3 SPGs per team to an absolute minimum.

MORE INFO



[h2]Improved Visuals for Destroyed Vehicle Tracks[/h2]

We have also improved the visuals for destroyed tracks on every vehicle in the game. Tracks will now interact with objects as an independent physics model. To get an idea of how this will work, just picture how the tracks of American Yoh tanks look when they get knocked down. This setting does affect the performance of your device, however, so it will only be enabled by default if your graphics quality is set to high or better.



[h2]Battle Pass Season IX Is Coming![/h2]

Commanders! Battle Pass Season IX is coming back soon with tons of useful Base Rewards and even more valuable Improved Rewards! As always, you will also receive Battle Pass Tokens for completing certain Progression Stages. You can exchange these Tokens for various items and rare vehicles in the Items for Tokens section of the in-game Store. A total of seven rare Tier IX vehicles will be available for purchase, including the Cobra and the Lorraine 50 t.

It's going to be a hot Season, so get ready to showcase your skills and earn tons of cool rewards!




[h2]Good Luck, Commanders![/h2]

Try out the new Italian tank destroyers, experience battles with rebalanced vehicles, explore the new Outpost map, and enjoy the other features of this massive update!

LIST OF CHANGES

We’re ready to add an entire Italian tank destroyer branch to the game, Commanders!

This branch will consist of six researchable vehicles, from Tier V through Tier X. Starting from Tier VII, all new TDs will have strong frontal armor, excellent gun depression angles, and an autoloader with unusual implementation as a unique gameplay feature. Read on to find out more!

[h2]Italian Tank Destroyers: Well-Armored, Dangerous, and Unusual [/h2]

Researching the new branch of Italian tank destroyers starts from the Tier IV P26/40 medium tank. You will need approximately 12,650 XP to unlock the branch-opening vehicle, the Semovente M41. Almost all of these Italian TDs existed as design projects, and some of them even had physical prototypes. Thanks to surviving blueprints and archive materials, we've taken these forgotten concepts to the next level and recreated six historical in-game machines as they might have existed in real life.













This new branch features decent frontal armor and excellent gun depression angles. You would probably expect these vehicles to be equipped with an autoreloading system, as well, like Italian medium or heavy tanks. But here’s the big surprise: High-tier Italian tank destroyers come with a magazine loading system that offers up a completely new playstyle! We’ll give you more information about this mechanic using a Tier X vehicle as an example. But let's first take a look at the lineup!

[h2]The Semovente M41 and the Semovente M43 Bassotto[/h2]

The new branch kicks off with the Semovente M41, which is a Tier V transitional vehicle. It is equipped with a non-rotating cabin instead of a turret, as well as a 75 mm gun. With a 350 m view range and great concealment values, this vehicle is a born Tier V master of camouflage and offers exciting stealthy gameplay.



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Sitting at Tier VI, the Semovente M43 Bassotto is somewhat of an improved version of the previous vehicle. It can brag about a more powerful 102 mm gun with good accuracy and penetration values. Alternatively, you can equip the 105 mm Tier VII gun with HE gameplay. The vehicle’s frontal armor is also more solid. Both vehicles are rather slow and rely on a stealthy playstyle using their great concealment values.



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[h2]The SMV CC-56[/h2]

The next Italian newcomer is the SMV CC-56, which is noticeably different from its predecessors. Starting with this TD, the branch begins to take on its main features, offering you an idea of what the gameplay of the high-tier vehicles will be.

The SMV CC-56 is equipped with a rotating turret but limited turret traverse angles (30 degrees to either side, 60 degrees in total). The turret and frontal armor are quite solid, so you can rely on them in close-range combat. However, what makes this vehicle so dangerous is its 105 mm gun that features an autoloader with a non-standard configuration (more on that below), as well as good depression and elevation angles (–10/+20 degrees).



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[h2]The SMV CC-67[/h2]

Now for the high-tier tanks! Let’s start with the menacing SMV CC-67, which embodies all the finest qualities of Italian tank destroyers. This vehicle also has a rotating turret, but its turret traverse angles is an impressive 70 degrees (35 degrees to either side).

The vehicle’s other characteristics are also evolving. The frontal hull and turret armor is even stronger, and the vehicle’s mobility is increasing, as well. The Tier VIII vehicle has a higher top speed, reverse speed, engine power, power-to-weight, and even traverse values. Although the SMV CC-67 can move from one flank to another, it will take you some time, so you’ll need to choose the right direction in battle. Its 120 mm gun with an autoloader and –10 degrees of gun depression make it easier to go hull-down, take a shot, and withdraw into cover for a few seconds so that enemies can’t hit your weak spots.



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[h2]The Controcarro 1 Mk. 2[/h2]

All of the above-mentioned gameplay features continue to evolve, making the Controcarro 1 Mk. 2 an incredibly dangerous opponent in close- and mid-range combat. The vehicle’s partial turret traverse and average mobility are counterbalanced by its excellent frontal armor and good gun handling. Its menacing and high-DPM 127 mm gun boasts 80 degrees of turret traverse angles (40 degrees to either side) and an autoloader that causes 490 HP of alpha damage.



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[h2]The Controcarro 3 Minotauro[/h2]

As the crown jewel of the new line, this Italian minotaur has key battle parameters similar to those of other high-tier TDs, but this is where they reach their maximum. Like its brothers-in-arms, this vehicle has excellent frontal hull armor and few weak spots, meaning that it can easily repel enemy shells and save your precious HP in a one-on-one duel.



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The rotating turret tops out at 90 degrees of total turret traverse angles, with 45 degrees to either side! The gun depression angles of –10 degrees are also good. The accuracy of the 130 mm gun is not too impressive, but its aiming time is very decent for this caliber, especially compared to other heavy tanks and tank destroyers with comparable guns. The penetration values are also more similar to those of heavy tanks rather than tank destroyers. This does not make firing from a long distance very comfortable, so the Minotauro will feel right at home on the front line as a powerful breakthrough vehicle. With its respectable 530 HP of alpha damage, it will perform brilliantly in both frontal assaults and positional hull-down duels, assisting heavies and putting pressure on the enemy in close combat.

The vehicle’s top speed of 30 km/h and its acceleration remain competitive compared to heavy tanks. It can confidently follow other allies to support them on the flanks.

The parameters displayed are valid for the vehicle with each crew member trained to 100% major qualification level. Some vehicle characteristics can be further improved with the Commander's bonus to major qualification level, crew perks, and skills, as well as special in-game items.

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And now, meet the branch’s real superpower: its unique autoloader!

[h2]Not Your Classic Autoloader: How It Works[/h2]

Unlike high-tier medium and heavy Italian tanks, Tier VII–X tank destroyers are equipped with a drum-type autoloader. However, this is not the classic autoloader that you might play on some popular French vehicles. Let's see how it works using the Controcarro 3 Minotauro as an example.

The autoloader has five shells with 530 HP of alpha damage. The full reload time is 24 seconds, and between shots—surprise! — a whopping eight seconds! This may seem strange on paper, but in practice, an autoloader with these unique parameters is perfect for trying out new tactics and keeping your opponents on their toes.

Always remember that you should treat this vehicle like a standard tank with a normal cyclic gun. Its alpha damage is equal to that of alpha heavies, but with a reload time of eight seconds, it’s faster than many brawlers, such as the IS-7 or the 60TP Lewandowskiego. This means that you can jump into a 1v1 duel and come out victorious, thanks to your huge in-clip DPM—up to 2650 HP!—and excellent frontal armor. One drum is enough to outshoot most of your opponents, even those with large HP pools.

Of course, you will have to pay for all of those shots with a reload that takes 24 seconds. Consider it a kind of delayed penalty for unleashing your devastating in-clip DPM. On the other hand, 24 seconds isn’t that bad. After all, the cooldown won’t take you out of the game for a very long time. Also, don’t forget that you have excellent frontal armor. While reloading, try to face your opponents frontally while hiding your lower plate so they have a harder time punishing you.

If you have a few shells left and the combat situation is favorable (meaning you can potentially do more damage), simply skip your drum to fully reload it. In just 24 seconds, you will have five shells with nice alpha at your disposal. Your rate of fire will probably be higher than that of your opponents, and they won't even know how many shots you have left! Whether or not to reload your full clip will be an easier decision in this vehicle than it would be in other autoloaders, so you will be perfectly capable of quickly adapting as the battle progresses.

This autoloader concept makes the Controcarro 3 Minotauro a unique and versatile vehicle that is sure to challenge its commander. You’ll need to get used to the Minotauro’s temper, but if you succeed, you will have a real king of the hill on any map.

If you are ready to take on this challenge, go ahead! It all depends on you!

Dear players!

On April 4, we announced that Wargaming projects including World of Tanks, will be operated by Lesta Games in Russia and Belarus. This was the first step, followed by months of hard work. The result is the complete structural and financial division of the two companies. Today, World of Tanks and other products are operated by two independent companies: by Lesta Games in Russia and Belarus, and by Wargaming in all other countries.

The next big step is to launch a special CIS → EU transfer campaign for CIS players who wish to stay with Wargaming and continue playing on Steam.

Transfer is a crucial activity where every player from CIS realm will need to decide on how to continue playing the game. Below you can find the key points about this procedure:

1. In September, CIS servers will be turned off for Steam players. Additionally, new players from Russia and Belarus will not be able to register a new World of Tanks account via Steam.
   
2. New CIS players from outside Russia and Belarus will still be able to install World of Tanks in Steam and create an account. Such players will be automatically redirected to EU region during registration.
   
3. If you already have an account on CIS region, you will have an opportunity to transfer your CIS account to EU region and continue playing on Steam.
   
4. If you don’t want to transfer your account to EU region, unfortunately, you will not be able to continue playing on Steam.
   

Providing high quality service and ensuring the comfort of our players will always remain our priority. We will keep your account progress and all applicable terms and conditions, including pricing principles, as well as the core set of services you are used to, no matter where you continue playing.

We understand that this is a big and serious decision for our players, and we will do our best to make it a smooth and easy experience for everyone.

[h3]Additional Questions [/h3]

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1. Q: Do I need to perform any actions now?
   A: If you wish to transfer your account, make sure that you have completed your registration by adding an email and a password. Other than that, you do not have to do anything now, this is just an announcement to make sure you stay up to date with our latest plans. We will make an additional publication when the transfer is ready with all details about the procedure.
   
   
2. Q: How long will the transfer option be available?
   A: The transfer campaign doesn’t have any planned end date. We want to make sure that all our players get a chance to move to EU region, including those who decided to take a break from the game at the moment. If this changes sometime in the future, we will let you know in advance.
   
   
3. Q: Will my progress, stats, purchases and resources be transferred as well?
   A: Yes, of course. Your progress, stats, purchases, resources etc. will be transferred to a new account on EU region with only a couple of exceptions. We will give you all the details closer to the transfer start.
   
   
4. Q: I play from Belarus or Russia and I want to transfer my account to EU region. Will I be able to make purchases in the game after the transfer?
   A: You will not be able to pay directly to Wargaming. In order to know if you are able to make purchases directly to Steam please look at the payment methods that are available in your country on Steam or contact Steam Support.
   
   
5. Q: Will the prices in the in-game Store become higher after the transfer?
   A: For the transferred players, the pricing principles on EU region will remain at the same level with CIS region.
   
   
6. Q: Will my ping become worse after the transfer?
   A: This is a very specific question which depends on a variety of factors, mainly on your service provider and your location. In some cases it might become lower, in other cases it might become higher.
   
   To ensure a comfortable gaming experience for transferred players we will add two new servers to the EU realm: EU 3 and EU 4.
   EU 3 will be in Luxembourg and is recommended for players located in Ukraine and Western Europe. The ping values on EU3 will be similar to the current RU3 server.
   EU 4 will be in Kazakhstan and is recommended for players located in Central Asia. The ping values on EU4 will be similar to the current RU10 server.
   
   
7. Q: Can I transfer my EU, NA, ASIA account to another server during this transfer campaign?
   A: No, this transfer campaign will be aimed specifically at CIS-region players. Other regions remain without any changes.
   
   
8. Q: What if I don’t want to transfer my account to EU region?
   A: Unfortunately, in that case you will not be able to play World of Tanks via Steam on your CIS-region account.
   
   
9. Q: Will you add Russian, Ukrainian etc. localizations in the game for the EU server?
   A: We will add Russian, Ukrainian and Kazakh localizations to the EU game client.
   

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We understand that you might have more questions about the transfer procedure. We will share the full transfer conditions and technical details for Steam players closer to the transfer launch which is currently planned for the middle of September. Stay tuned!