The development cycle for War Thunder has recently shifted its focus toward addressing platform-specific stability issues. By comparing the technical documentation for updates 2.57.1.135 and 2.57.1.140, we can observe a transition from addressing gameplay-specific mechanics to resolving critical launch-time failures on specific hardware configurations.
Update 2.57.1.135: Addressing Gameplay Mechanics
Released on 2026-09-08, update 2.57.1.135 focused on refining existing gameplay systems. The primary technical adjustments included a correction to the automatic lead calculation for guns within naval Arcade Battles. This change addressed an inaccuracy that affected targeting performance. Additionally, the update resolved a graphics-related bug where Ray Tracing parameter settings would revert to preset values whenever a player attempted to apply custom changes. These fixes were aimed at stabilizing the user experience regarding visual settings and combat accuracy.
Update 2.57.1.140: Prioritizing Mac Stability
The subsequent update, 2.57.1.140, released on 2026-09-14, shifted the development priority toward platform stability. The most significant change was the resolution of a crash occurring at launch for Mac users operating on specific GPU architectures, including Intel HD 500, Iris, and Iris Pro, as well as NVIDIA GeForce 600 and 700 series cards. This update also introduced a change to how the game handles external links, moving to an external web browser for opening in-game links on Mac platforms.
Current patch compared with the previous update
| Official update | Published | Words | Fix terms | Balance terms | Addition terms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Update 2.57.1.140 | 2026-09-14 11:58 UTC | 126 | 2 | ||
| Update 2.57.1.135 | 2026-09-08 14:37 UTC | 131 | 3 |
Development Methodology and Limitations
The developer maintains that patch notes are not exhaustive and may not reflect every improvement implemented in a given update. According to official documentation, changes are prioritized based on their impact, with game-breaking issues receiving immediate attention. The information presented here is based on deterministic text measurements from official Steam announcements. It is important to recognize that the extent of undocumented changes remains unknown, and the specific performance or security implications of the new external browser integration on Mac have not been detailed by the developer.
Limitations
This analysis is limited to the information provided in official Steam patch notes. Because the developer explicitly states that these notes do not contain a complete list of all improvements, there may be additional technical changes or background adjustments not captured in this report. Furthermore, the analysis does not account for server-side updates that do not require a client-side patch, as these are not documented in the same manner as the updates analyzed here.
Confirmed evidence
- Update 2.57.1.140, released on 2026-09-14, resolved a crash occurring at launch on Mac systems using Intel HD 500, Iris, Iris Pro, or NVIDIA GeForce 600/700 series GPUs.
- Update 2.57.1.140 introduced the use of an external web browser for opening in-game links on Mac platforms.
- Update 2.57.1.135, released on 2026-09-08, addressed an incorrect automatic lead calculation for guns in naval Arcade Battles.
- Update 2.57.1.135 fixed a bug where Ray Tracing parameter settings would reset to preset values when applying changes.
- The developer states that patch notes reflect only key changes and may not include a complete list of all improvements implemented.
- The developer prioritizes bug fixes based on importance, with game-breaking issues addressed sooner.