2018: A Look Back

Update 9.22 was one of the most defining updates of the year and it brought us a split of the Soviet tech tree as we knew it.

New rear-turreted Soviet heavy tanks:
Replacement of the old Object 430. It's been rebalanced and placed at Tier IX instead of the Object 430 II, with the Object 430U at the top of the line
The Object 257 was introduced, taking the place of the T-10
Two new lines have been created with open contenders for the Tier X spot after the Object 430 II and T-10
- Those spots were later filled by the K-91 and Object 277
The reshuffle of the second Soviet tank destroyer line ending with the Object 268 Version 4
- Later that year, its performance was adjusted to be in line with other Tier X vehicles

Full patch notes

World of Tanks Remastered (Update 1.0)

One of our biggest achievements and largest updates in World of Tanks' history, Update 1.0 let everyone re-discover their favourite game.

A completely reworked game engine: The implementation of the new Core engine improved the performance for most com setup, ranging for low-performance to high-end rigs
Stunning HD graphics and remastered maps: All assets on each map has been reworked to HD, giving them all a completely new look
Orchestral World of Tanks soundtrack: Based on the previous versions, the soundtracks have been remastered

Full patch notes

Italian / British / Winter Challenges

The new marathon concept of using either skill or endurance to complete stages to win a Tier VIII Premium vehicle. Even completing some stages was worth the effort, as it increased the discount on the vehicle by 10% for each finished stage.

Progetto M35 mod. 46 (Italian Challenge)
Caernarvon Action X (British Challenge)
SU-130PM (Winter Challenge)

Shortly after the Italian Challenge, the Italian Tech Tree was added with the P.44 Pantera, Prototipo Standard B, and the Progetto M40 mod. 65 at the top of the line.

Also, the new Frontline event was available for a couple of weeks with an entirely new concept:

30 vs. 30 battles on a 3 x 3 km map, consisting of 9 sectors in total
Respawn mechanic with choice of all Tier VIII vehicles available in your garage
Attackers must capture sectors and destroy three targets, whereas the Defenders must keep them away until the time runs out
Earn ranks up to 'General' for your individual performance, and level up through the Prestige system for more and more rewards

Thanks to the overwhelmingly positive perception of this event, it will return in 2019 with new challenges and rewards. Stay tuned!

Tankball

As it's pretty much tradition for World of Tanks, every two years, a Football Mode is available for a couple of weeks. Over time, the entire concept has been refined, and this summer we had:

Three vehicles with their own roles and abilities: E 100 SPORT (Defender), T-62A SPORT (Midfielder), AMX 13 105 SPORT (Striker)
Multiple locations to prove your worth: The Lev Yashin Stadium, the Himelstadium, and the Lost Stadium
Football Collection: By collecting tank cards you could reap great rewards, such as the legendary Gigi Buffon as a tank commander or special football styles

Poland and The Second Front (Update 1.1)

The most important update for one of our largest communities in Europe. After the captured Pudel and the well-received 50TP Prototyp were introduced last August, it was time to get a proper tank line into the game. Their defining traits are a sloped frontal armour, a tough turret with good gun depression values, and very hard-hitting guns.

Also, the second campaign of the Personal Missions has been introduced, where you can win three new special vehicles:

VI Excalibur , a British tank destroyer that should not be judged by its looks
VIII Chimera , a British medium tank with an extremely powerful boomstick
X Object 279 early , a Soviet heavy tank with an unconventional design and four tracks.

Preferential Matchmaking Improvements (Update 1.2)

Many new vehicles have been added over time, and older vehicles struggled to stay relevant in the current metagame, despite their Preferential Matchmaking status. This is why they were rebalanced:

The Dark Front in Halloween 2018

For a couple of weeks, you had the chance of invading Grim Nebelburg to collect Green Matter:

Green Matter was spread throughout the map and could be also gathered by destroying targets. The bigger they were, the more Green Matter they dropped.
Five tankers per game (solo or platoon) were tasked with this challenge to bring home as much of that resource as possible.
Your machine was the modified MT-Revenant, and while there was a respawn mechanic, a destruction of your vehicle meant losing all the Green Matter you haven't brought back to the base.

Holiday Ops and the return of a legend (Update 1.3)

Every World of Tanks veteran surely remembers the "good ol' days" when the T-50-2 was the speed demon of the game, next to the VK 28.01 and the M24 Chaffee. Sadly, the Soviet light tank was later replaced by the MT-25 and taken out of the game for a long time – until November 2018. As part of our appreciation towards every one of you, the most seasoned players received the T-50-2 for free, aside from other huge rewards.

To properly celebrate the Festive Season, World of Tanks is hosting the Holiday Ops with tons of collectable items to decorate your garage and upgrade your Festive Atmosphere. Just like in 2017, there are decorations of four different settings. The better they are, the higher the bonuses for each battle, among other rewards.

Everyone also received a Premium light tank as a gift, the II MKA

All about Holiday Ops

Thank you again for your continuous support throughout the year. Let's roll out into 2019 together!