Gaijin Entertainment has officially released update 2.59.0.59 for War Thunder across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms. This patch focuses on refining the combat mechanics of specific aircraft and adjusting the defensive capabilities of surface-to-air missile systems to improve overall gameplay balance.
SAM System and Aircraft Adjustments
A significant portion of this update addresses the tactical behavior of ground-based anti-air units. Specifically, the S-75 and HAWK SAM systems have received a new logic implementation that allows them to automatically deactivate their radars when threatened by incoming anti-radiation missiles (ARMs). This change provides these systems with a higher degree of survivability in high-threat environments. Additionally, developers have tuned the engagement parameters for SAM systems, ensuring they can now effectively track and engage targets flying over water at lower altitudes than previously possible.
For aerial combat, the update resolves long-standing issues with the H8K series of aircraft. The wing-root turrets on both the H8K2 and H8K3 models are now fully functional, restoring their intended defensive capabilities during flight. Players who utilize ray tracing settings will also notice improved visual stability, as the update resolves a persistent issue where ray-traced shadows would flicker on aircraft models.
Summary of Technical Changes
The following table outlines the primary technical adjustments implemented in this version:
| Feature | Change Type |
|---|---|
| H8K2/H8K3 Wing-root Turrets | Fixed |
| SAM Low-Altitude Water Engagement | Fixed |
| S-75/HAWK Radar Logic | Implemented |
| Ray Traced Shadow Flickering | Fixed |
These changes are now live for all players. The update is designed to ensure that ground-based air defense remains a viable threat while simultaneously correcting mechanical inconsistencies for specific Japanese flying boats. By addressing the radar deactivation logic, the developers have introduced a more dynamic interaction between anti-radiation weaponry and stationary air defense assets. Players should ensure their game client is updated to the latest version to experience these improvements in their next session.
- Wing-root turrets on H8K2 and H8K3 aircraft are now functional.
- SAM systems now engage targets flying over water at lower altitudes.
- S-75 and HAWK SAM systems now deactivate radars when threatened by ARMs.
- Ray traced shadow flickering on aircraft has been resolved.
- Update version 2.59.0.59 has been released.