It has become a tradition that each anniversary update is particularly impressive in terms of the amount of content and activities. For example, in version 7.0 we added several noticeable graphical improvements. Update 8.0 is no exception, bringing players a new branch of American heavyweights, cool graphics, and three events at once.
Let’s dive into the details.
Events
Blitz turns 7 years old and therefore birthday will be celebrated. The whole thing will take place against the backdrop of a carnival. The whole thing is to start in mid-June. There is to be a “shooting range”, probably a shooting gallery is meant, where you can shoot souvenirs. What one can win in detail was not communicated. As the main prize there should be a new German, medium Tier V tank with “with excellent alpha, average dynamics, but not outstanding armor and penetrating power”.
You should be able to get it by playing and winning. How many games / victories are needed, whether you can compensate for the missing victories via gold …? We will see.
A second tank will become the “High Striker”. As for the conditions: “Roll up your sleeves. Here you have to do your best.”Here you have to “do a lot of damage” within a week. In addition to the tank, there are other rewards along the way.
The tank itself is also a German tank here, the light tank Kunze on Tier VII, “compact, dynamic, fast, aims fast, shoots effectively”.
Dynamic chassis
After ruts, gun recoil and hit marks, the first technical innovation with 8.0 will be a dynamic chassis.
This, like rolling back gun barrels or tracks on the ground, does not affect gameplay, but adds visual authenticity to your engagements and battles. The suspension uses a realistic physics model. The idler movement, chain tension and sag depend on the suspension design, i.e. the relative position of the drive and idler wheels, the presence / absence of idlers, the size and position of the idlers, the position of the balance rollers, etc. It is available on all tanks in the game and for each of them it is configured individually – according to the design characteristics. It is enabled by the corresponding option in the graphics settings (if supported by the device), it is also enabled if the “High” preset is selected in the graphics quality settings. So it depends on the perfomance of the device whether it is offered in the options.
New quality of graphics for tanks and visual effects
Starting with version 8.0, we will begin to give tanks a new visual appearance.
What does the new visual appearance of vehicles include?
New, physically correct rendering of materials and lighting technology that uses the principles of light distribution in the real world. Metal, fabric upholstery, rubber rims and other materials look more realistic, and the tanks themselves have a global lighting scheme unique to each map. This will be seen for the first time on the new American heavy tanks.
Der Panzer, der sich über das Schlachtfeld bewegt, wird allmählich schmutzig (oder auf den entsprechenden Maps mit Schnee bedeckt). Eine leichte Verschmutzung gibt es bereits zu Beginn der Schlacht – Schmutz oder Schnee, der während des Transports anhaftet. Beim Einfahren ins Wasser wird der Panzer nass, und der anhaftende Schmutz wird abgewaschen. Nach dem Verlassen des Wassers trocknet der Panzer allmählich ab.
Starting in Update 8.0 will be the American M-VII-Yoh (VII), M-III-Yoh (VIII), MV-Yoh (IX), M-VI-Yoh (X), as well as the German Premium Tier VII Kunze. Every tank in the game will need to be reworked to “activate” a new quality. The process will not be quick, but in each version we plan to rework several existing tanks for a new visual quality. So will take time to implement for all. Wargaming did not mention a timetable or order for the tanks.
For the implementation, the graphics setting will be changed:
High now activates the Ultra settings for vehicles that have already been redesigned for the new graphics quality, Medium is now the former High, and the former Medium quality is Low. Owners of old or weaker devices should not have to worry – in fact, the previous “Low” settings for tanks are not much different from the old “Medium” settings, and there will be no noticeable change in image and performance. Let’s see how it looks when implemented.
New branch for American Heavies
The tanks of the new branch are based on concepts presented in 1953 by the H. L. Yoh Company, Inc. as part of a research program for the U.S. Army. Many details about these developments are still secret, and the H.L. Yoh Company completely changed direction, but some of the data was publicly available.
M-VII-Yoh ist ein Tier VII Heavy, der erste in der neuen Sparte. Er wird aus dem M6 erforscht. Es ist ein dynamischer Panzer mit einer komfortablen “normalen” Kanone und anständiger Panzerung im Turm. Das Konzept dieser Maschine von H.L. Yoh sah ein einzigartiges Turmmotor-Layout vor und wir haben dieses Feature natürlich ins Spiel übernommen. Der Nachteil ist die eher papierdünne Karosserie und mögliche Motor-Crits beim Durchbrechen des Turms.
The M-III-Yoh is a Tier VIII heavyweight with an autoloader for 3 shells, excellent gun depression and good dynamics. The appearance and layout are the most “classic” among all the tanks of the branch. It will be possible to bounce the grenades off the turret, but the hull must be hidden, as it has little armor. It is recommended to play on the second line and play over the turret.
M-V-Yoh – Tier IX: H.L. Yoh designers took the idea of reducing the frontal projection of the turret to the extreme, which is why it looks so unusual compared to other tanks. Features: reboundable but not invulnerable turret, two guns with autoloaders for 2 and 3 shells.
M-VI-Yoh – Tier X: It has a strong turret, but with vulnerable zones, so it is not recommended to stop while playing over the turret. As for the ninth tier, there will be two alternative guns – 105-mm and 120-mm with autoloaders for three and two projectiles, respectively. If you play with two bullets, the player will quickly do more damage (due to higher alpha and faster reloading in the autoloader), and if you play with three bullets – you will have faster reloading of the entire barrel (and thus DPM), accuracy and penetrating power. We tried to create two really alternative weapons so that players would be interested in playing both weapons and they could easily change their gameplay on the same tank.
Battle Pass in June
Warm up for the birthday of Blitz. A “shiny tank that looks like a race car from childhood” (?!?) is announced. Resembles a French light in top view. AMX 13 75 in colorful?
Plus holiday avatars and camouflage – all this will create the right mood and charge you with positive energy on the eve of the 7th anniversary. Whatever that may mean.
Changes in rewards – the tank will remain at level 35, and the certificate for its unique camouflage will be at level 70.
Test Tank
The following test tanks you will currently encounter in the battles:
- Kampfpanzer 50 t – medium tank on Tier X
- AE Phase – heavy tank on Tier IX
- Super Hellcat- a TD on Tier VII
- Bretagne Panter – medium tank on Tier VI
We don’t know if they will come with update 8.0. And whether they will be like in the test either, there were enough adjustments in the past.
Conclusion
The new American Heavies sound exciting and I am curious to see how the changes to the graphics and the chassis will make themselves felt in the game experience. All in all, an update that justifies the jump to an even number and shows that Wargaming isn’t done with the game but still has ideas that they bring in. What do you think of all these things? Write it in the comments!