World of Warplanes Interview

World of Warplanes Interview

Since its original announcement at E3 and the release of the first trailer, developer Wargaming.net has continued work on its second MMO, World of Warplanes. We met up with the game's producer Anton Sitnikau to find out more.

Bit-Gamer: The first trailer for World of Warplanes shows a variety of propeller aircraft, so is it safe to assume that, like World of Tanks, World of Warplanes is also set during the late 1930s to the early 1950s?

Wargaming.net: You’re right. In World of Warplanes we decided to stick to the same time period as in World of Tanks - 1930s to 1950s, because it was the Golden Age of military aviation. However, apart from the propeller aircraft demonstrated in the GamesCom trailer, there’ll be jet planes as well.

Bit-Gamer: What nations do you plan on including in the initial release? Will it be the same as World of Tanks, i.e. Germany, USA and USSR? If so, how long do we have to wait until we can fly Spitfires?

Wargaming.net: We’ll start with a 'standard' for every set of nations in a WWII-themed game – Germany, USA and USSR - other countries will be added later. It will take around half a year to add Spitfires and other powerful British aircraft after the release of the game.


Bit-Gamer: Do you plan on doing a long public beta of the game during which premium features, such as gold, will be free? If so, what is the planned release date for the beta?

Wargaming.net: As in World of Tanks, all premium features will be available during the World of Warplanes beta, as we need to get feedback from our players regarding the features they like and use frequently, as well as the ones that aren't widely used. World of Tanks players that have premium accounts will probably also have some extra perks to explore. We're hoping to have the game in closed beta by the end of this year.

Bit-Gamer: You've already said elsewhere that you'll be able to transfer free XP between World of Tanks and World of Warplanes accounts. Will gold also be shared?

Wargaming.net: There will be one 'wallet' for all the three games that will let the player transfer both gold and experience from one 'world' to another.

Bit-Gamer: Will there be any other interaction between World of Warplanes and World of Tanks? What about with World of Battleships that you also recently announced?

Wargaming.net: Most likely there will be some sort of interaction on the Clan Wars level but it’s too early to talk about this now.


Bit-Gamer: Will you will be able to fly different types of aircraft, such as fighters, interceptors, fighter bombers and bombers?

Wargaming.net: There will be light fighters, heavy fighters (twin-engined) and attack planes in the game and we already have these classes of aircraft in the alpha version. However, these classes will be more flexible than the tank ones in World of Tanks. For instance, light fighters will fulfil the functions of interceptors; heavy fighters will be used as fighter bombers if you load them with bombs... As for bombers, we’ll probably have AI controlled ones in the escort mode.

Bit-Gamer: Will bombers have multiple turrets? If so, will these be AI controlled?

Wargaming.net: We already have two planes with multiple turrets in the game – the IL-2 and the Messerschmitt 410. The AI-controlled rear gunner will be levelling up and learning some side skill in the same way that this is done in World of Tanks.