Used to be Fun™. Now it's Almost Fun™.

Jokes aside, it's a money grab. And it will keep going that way until something drastic happens to Gaijin. I've been around War Thunder for many years now(only recently started using Steam as the launcher) and slowly but surely, this game has been morphed into a cash cow. Gaijin have begun resorting to full-blown EA and Wargaming tactics, to see how far they can push the audience before something snaps.

As for the gameplay itself, calling it a ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ is probably being too nice. Some examples:
Artificially buffed Russian and Chinese tanks that don't produce spall when shot(also applies to their helis and planes, not even joking).

Hideously one-sided maps where you literally spawncamp the enemy directly from yours. Fun all around.

A progression system so slow and teeth-grinding it makes you question your life choices.
You could've studied to become a doctor or lawyer in the same time it took to reach top tier, easily.

The "Big 3" mindset when it comes to adding new content:
"Oh, you prefer to play something else other than Russian, American or German? Tough luck, cyka. Here's 3 new overpowered vehicles you didn't want or need. And we won't nerf them until we've earned enough money from people buying their way through the insane grind". -Gaijin, probably.

Absolutely no regard for it's playerbase. Feedback? They don't know the meaning of the word.
They hate us, quite literally.

So all in all, will I keep playing the game?
I most likely will. Why, you ask? Well, even though I have grown to hate the company behind it with a passion, there is literally nothing else like it on the market right now. Sadly, I have a special itch that only WT can scratch.

So, should YOU start playing the game?
Absolutely ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ not. Save yourself the trouble and your soul. Unless you're prepared to either spend upwards of literally 2 years to reach your first top tier vehicle, or spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on buying your way through. No, I'm not even joking. It's THAT bad.

TLDR: Just don't. Go buy a house or a car for your hard earned money instead. Spend some time with your family, perhaps.

Used to be Fun™. Now it's Almost Fun™. Jokes aside, it's a money grab. And it will keep going that way until something drastic happens to Gaijin. I've been around War Thunder for many years now(only recently started using Steam as the launcher) and slowly but surely, this game has been morphed into a cash cow. Gaijin have begun resorting to full-blown EA and Wargaming tactics, to see how far they can push the audience before something snaps. As for the gameplay itself, calling it a shitshow is probably being too nice. Some examples: Artificially buffed Russian and Chinese tanks that don't produce spall when shot(also applies to their helis and planes, not even joking). Hideously one-sided maps where you literally spawncamp the enemy directly from yours. Fun all around. A progression system so slow and teeth-grinding it makes you question your life choices. You could've studied to become a doctor or lawyer in the same time it took to reach top tier, easily. The "Big 3" mindset when it comes to adding new content: "Oh, you prefer to play something else other than Russian, American or German? Tough luck, cyka. Here's 3 new overpowered vehicles you didn't want or need. And we won't nerf them until we've earned enough money from people buying their way through the insane grind". -Gaijin, probably. Absolutely no regard for it's playerbase. Feedback? They don't know the meaning of the word. They hate us, quite literally. So all in all, will I keep playing the game? I most likely will. Why, you ask? Well, even though I have grown to hate the company behind it with a passion, there is literally nothing else like it on the market right now. Sadly, I have a special itch that only WT can scratch. So, should YOU start playing the game? Absolutely fucking not. Save yourself the trouble and your soul. Unless you're prepared to either spend upwards of literally 2 years to reach your first top tier vehicle, or spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on buying your way through. No, I'm not even joking. It's THAT bad. TLDR: Just don't. Go buy a house or a car for your hard earned money instead. Spend some time with your family, perhaps.