Jul 8, 2026
View on Steam↗Infantry in War Thunder: Third Testing Phase!
3/5 Moderate
BETAMassive Kivu map and 128-player battles arrive in Infantry Phase 3 alongside a total rework of grenade physics and class loadouts.
Key Changes
- 1New Kivu map set in Central Africa is 4x larger than previous locations
- 2Player count increased to 128 (64-vs-64) for large-scale battles
- 3Class loadouts revised: RPGs, MANPADS, and drones are now restricted to specific classes
- 4New respawn mechanic allows players to spawn at captured points
- 5Grenade throwing reworked with improved accuracy, physics, and animations
- 6Arcade Battle marker logic overhauled to prevent detection through obstacles
- 7New 5-seat transport vehicle added for squad movement
- 8Dedicated Infantry graphics settings tab added to session settings
- 9New angled weapon grip setting added to improve sight visibility
- 10Added concussion effects from nearby grenade explosions
All Changes
🗺️Maps(5)
- newKivu: New large-scale location set in Central Africa, roughly four times the size of previous testing maps.
- fixGranitograd: Improved positioning and destructibility of environmental objects.
- fixAl-Massa: Improved positioning and destructibility of environmental objects.
- changeGranitograd: Fine-tuned material penetration (shoot-through) for various environmental objects.
- changeAl-Massa: Fine-tuned material penetration (shoot-through) for various environmental objects.
⚙️Gameplay Systems(9)
- change64-vs-64: Server optimizations implemented to support 64-vs-64 player matches (128 players per session).
- changeArcade Battles: Markers no longer appear through bushes or at long distances; they now require visual contact to trigger.
- buffArcade Battles: Equipment weight has a reduced impact on movement speed compared to Realistic Battles, resulting in a faster pace.
- newRespawning: Players can now spawn directly at captured points instead of only at the starting base.
- nerfClass Loadouts: RPGs, MANPADS, and drones are no longer universal and are restricted to specific class loadouts.
- changeTotal Dominance: Capturing all points simultaneously now causes enemy points to drain even faster.
- newConcussion: Added a concussion effect when players are near grenade explosions.
- newRespawning: Experimental feature allowing players to respawn twice using the same soldier.
- newUAV: Separate UAV control range settings implemented for large-scale battles.
🔫Weapons(23)
- changeGrenades: Throws are more accurate with updated animations, timing, and a release point aligned with the crosshair.
- changeGrenades: Weapon weight now more accurately influences the trajectory of the throw.
- fixGrenades: Fixed bugs that caused grenades to fly off-target.
- newWeapon Grip: Added an alternative angled grip setting to improve visibility through sights.
- newWeapon Skins: New adaptive camouflage patterns added for AK-12, RPK-74M, SVDM, M249, M4A1, and M16A4.
- changeAnimations: Adjusted weapon-switching animations for better feel.
- fixBipods: Fixed a bug where weapons would clip into objects when deployed on a bipod.
- newM4A1: Available for US arsenal in Phase 3.
- newM16A4: Available for US arsenal in Phase 3.
- newTAC-50: Available for US arsenal in Phase 3.
- newSCAR-L: Available for US arsenal in Phase 3.
- newM249 Para: Available for US arsenal in Phase 3.
- newMAC-11 PDW: Available for US arsenal in Phase 3.
- newXM5: Available for US arsenal in Phase 3.
- newM110 SDMR: Available for US arsenal in Phase 3.
- newAK-12: Available for Soviet arsenal in Phase 3.
- newAK-74M: Available for Soviet arsenal in Phase 3.
- newKSVK: Available for Soviet arsenal in Phase 3.
- newKord 6P67: Available for Soviet arsenal in Phase 3.
- newRPK-74M: Available for Soviet arsenal in Phase 3.
- newPP-19: Available for Soviet arsenal in Phase 3.
- newAK-15: Available for Soviet arsenal in Phase 3.
- newSVDM: Available for Soviet arsenal in Phase 3.
🚜Vehicles(7)
- newTransport Vehicle: New passenger vehicle added to Kivu that carries up to five soldiers with on-the-fly seat switching.
- newM1A2 SEP V2: Available for US arsenal in Phase 3.
- newLAV-AD: Available for US arsenal in Phase 3.
- newAH-64A: Available for US arsenal in Phase 3.
- newT-90M: Available for Soviet arsenal in Phase 3.
- new2S6: Available for Soviet arsenal in Phase 3.
- newMi-28N: Available for Soviet arsenal in Phase 3.
🖥️UI/UX & Graphics(2)
- newGraphics Settings: Added a dedicated tab for infantry-specific graphics settings that does not affect general game settings.
- newCharacter Customization: New gear and character appearances added for both factions tailored to the Central African setting.
Summary
The third testing phase for War Thunder Infantry introduces its largest environment to date, Kivu, which supports 128-player sessions. This update focuses on scaling the experience with new transport mechanics, class-specific loadout restrictions, and a significant overhaul to grenade throwing and Arcade Battle marker logic. Players can also access dedicated infantry graphics settings and a wide array of modern US and Soviet weaponry.