Gaijin Entertainment, the developer of War Thunder, is working to expand the selection of locations available for the game’s Nuclear Escalation mode. Nuclear Escalation is a large-scale mode depicting a conflict involving nuclear weapons, with players taking command of frontline aircraft armed with nuclear bombs. The first candidate to join the map list is an updated version of the Southeastern City map.
Limited test runs through October 9th
Testing for the revised Southeastern City map is available from October 7th at 11:00 GMT until October 9th at 11:00 GMT. Players can find the test in the Events and Tournaments tab. The test covers the same Battle Rating range as the main mode, from 8.7 to 14.7, and uses the same matchmaking rules and Battle Rating brackets that determine the ground AI lineups in battle.
Southeastern City terrain and vegetation updates
Gaijin Entertainment says Southeastern City has received significant revisions. The most important change is a switch to height-map technology, similar to how it works in a recent update to the Afghanistan map. This technology allows for a more detailed landscape. The map now features detailed sandy and rocky shores. The mountains have more textured surfaces, and forests and villages have been added to the northern section, which previously only consisted of open fields.
Vegetation has also been improved. Existing models were replaced with new ones, ground cover is now more dense, and trees now appear on mountain slopes. Finishing touches include reworking the water color and adjusting weather settings to make the map look more vibrant than before.
Developer will monitor match flow before next steps
The test is intended to show how Nuclear Escalation plays out on this map in practice. Based on the results, Gaijin Entertainment will decide on the next steps. The developer anticipates that the map’s smaller size might lead to excessive action density at top tiers, potentially requiring a cap on the maximum mission Battle Rating. No final change has been announced.
War Thunder’s competitive circuit has also been active this season, with the WTCS Pro League Major III wrapping up in September ahead of the Grand Finals.
