If you thought War Thunder was just about heavy armour, soaring fighter jets, and naval broadsides, think again. Gaijin Entertainment is officially dropping players right into the mud. The highly anticipated third stage of the War Thunder Infantry Closed Beta Test (CBT) is officially kicking off this July, and it is bringing some seriously massive upgrades to the battlefield.

We are talking about a major scale-up, fresh modern hardware, and a brand-new combat zone that changes the pacing of the game entirely. Here is everything you need to know about the upcoming test phase.

Welcome to Kivu: A Massive Central African Warzone

The centrepiece of CBT Phase 3 is Kivu, an all-new map set in Central Africa that is roughly four times larger than previous infantry locations like Granitograd and Al-Massa.

Because the map is so vast, Gaijin has optimised its server infrastructure to handle true large-scale warfare. This test phase reintroduces the 64-vs-64 format, allowing up to 128 players to clash simultaneously in the same match.

To prevent this massive map from turning into a walking simulator, the developers are introducing several experimental gameplay mechanics:

• Forward Respawns: For the first time, players can spawn directly onto capture points controlled by their team, keeping the pressure right on the front lines.
• Squad Transport Vehicles: The test introduces a five-player light passenger car, allowing squads to rotate across the map together. If the driver gets sniped, any passenger can switch to the driver’s seat on the fly.
• Total Dominance: A new ticket-drain mechanic means that if your team controls all five capture points at once, the enemy’s victory points bleed away even faster.

Modern Arsenals & Distinct Soldier Classes

Both factions are getting unique, region-specific modern gear and specialised loadouts. Rather than every soldier having access to all gear, player classes have been heavily revised to encourage strategic teamwork. Special-purpose equipment like RPGs, MANPADS, and drones are now locked to specific roles.

Expect to wield top-tier small arms and operate heavy support machinery:

• USA Forces: M4A1, SCAR-L, XM5, and the M110 SDMR, backed by M1A2 SEP V2 main battle tanks, LAV-AD air defense systems, and AH-64A Apache helicopters.
• USSR Forces: AK-12, AK-15, SVDM, and the Kord 6P67, supported by T-90M tanks, 2S6 Tunguska systems, and Mi-28N Havoc attack helicopters.

Smarter Arcade Battles and Visual Tweaks

Arcade Battles are making a return, but with a major tactical overhaul to the marker display logic. To stop players from simply shooting at red UI indicators through dense foliage, markers will now only appear if you have a direct, unobstructed line of sight to the enemy model. If they duck behind smoke, walls, or trees, the marker vanishes. Furthermore, heavily equipped soldiers will now move faster in Arcade mode compared to Realistic mode to keep the match pacing snappy.

Gaijin has also listened to community feedback by adding a dedicated graphics settings tab specifically for the Infantry mode, meaning you can tune your performance for ground combat without messing up your main vehicle settings.

How to Join the Fight

If you haven’t yet experienced War Thunder from a boots-on-the-ground perspective, the doors aren’t completely shut. Players can head over to the official War Thunder website right now to apply for CBT access before the July testing window begins.

Get your squad ready—the battlefield is about to get a whole lot louder.

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