War Thunder's Next Graphic Engine Overhaul Adds Explosion Shock Waves And New, Shinier Textures
Dynamic wind, smoke shadows, blowing dust, and "improved grass"!
Lots of games feature spectacular pyrotechnic displays when something goes boom, but how many of them spare a thought for the trees in close proximity to that boom? Won't someone please think of the trees?
Gaijin Entertainment does, and today's dev blog highlights some of the changes coming to War Thunder's Dagor Engine in the upcoming Wind of Change update. The shock wave from a tank gun firing or an exploding bomb will be felt all around the point of impact, with trees and other vegetation swaying and bending in response to the shock wave. It's enough to almost make a pilot want to drop his payload on an unoccupied forest, instead of his target, just to see the ripples it makes in the environment.
More on the #WarThunder engine update: New shock wave affecting vegetation, fire & smoke, dynamic wind, smoke shadows, improved grass and a lot of cosmetic micro-effects!
👉 https://t.co/I1hsAxsvlT pic.twitter.com/JaTkWLobq0— War Thunder (@WarThunder) March 21, 2022
That's not the only change coming when Dagor Engine 6.5 hits the servers. Wind, fire, and smoke will be more dynamic, with the last casting potentially enormous shadows over the battlefield. New textures for vehicles will necessitate the addition of an ultra-HD (1440/2160p) client and new rendering will make it so every surface "reliably reflects light with the edges of its textured surface and creates realistic shadows."
There will also be several "cosmetic micro-effects" in Winds of Change, such as floating litter, falling leaves, and wind-blown dust. These will have "little to no effect on game performance," Gaijin Entertainment promises, but if they do, I've got a suggestion: Get rid of those pesky vehicles and let us just enjoy the beautiful environment.
About the Author

Jason Winter is a veteran gaming journalist, he brings a wide range of experience to MMOBomb, including two years with Beckett Media where he served as the editor of the leading gaming magazine Massive Online Gamer. He has also written professionally for several gaming websites.
You May Enjoy
Without Even Leaving Early Access, Scavengers Is Headed To Maintenance Mode
Well, the PC version anyway.
By QuintLyn Bowers - 1 week agoYou Can Play Arma Reforger's Early Access Today While Waiting On Arma 4
Arma 4 might be some ways off, but that doesn't mean players have to wait until then to enjoy the fun.
By Aspen Pash - 1 week agoFFXIV Players Teleported To Jail After Using Mods During Live Broadcast
What is the future of FFXIV and third-party tools moving forward from these events?
By Aspen Pash - 2 weeks agoWorld Of Tanks Is Celebrating It's First Steam Anniversary
Get a free Cromwell B tank and jump into in-game festivities!
By Anthony Jones - 2 weeks agoFinal Fantasy XIV's Naoki Yoshida Addresses Upcoming Crystalline Conflict And Frontline PvP Changes
Set to come with patch 6.15, but before that will be The Make It Rain Campaign event.
By Anthony Jones - 23 hours agoUbisoft’s Riders Republic Gets A Community Update
The sports video game has not been forgotten…apparently.
By Aspen Pash - 5 days ago
Discussion (1)