War Thunder's Next Graphic Engine Overhaul Adds Explosion Shock Waves And New, Shinier Textures

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.