The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →War Thunder’s infantry mode is called Line of Contact. Gaijin announced it as a standalone mode combining player-controlled infantry squads with ground vehicles and helicopters, and it has been in staged closed beta testing. Gaijin has not announced a full-release date in the sources available as of October 8, 2026.
What is infantry mode in War Thunder?
Line of Contact is a separate mode in development, not a replacement for War Thunder’s vehicle battles. Gaijin introduced it on December 4, 2025, describing infantry squads fighting alongside ground vehicles and helicopters on modern battlefields. The announcement outlined modern weapons and equipment, customizable weapons, squad roles, building clearouts, sniper duels, and street combat. Gaijin’s announcement framed it as a new mode entering closed beta testing.
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Players control one soldier while directing a squad whose members follow and assist them. In Domination, squads fight to capture and hold objectives in multi-floor buildings. Vehicles can provide support, but the close quarters of urban maps make them vulnerable. These are the mechanics in Gaijin’s test description, and they may change as development continues.
How does the infantry beta work?
Gaijin’s December 5, 2025 testing announcement described a staged, invitation-based closed beta. The original process asked players to register interest; an invitation was required to participate. The initial test plan included Arcade and Realistic battles, modern US and Russian equipment, and infantry fighting alongside tanks and helicopters. Gaijin’s beta details also distinguished the two battle styles:
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- Arcade: The announcement described markers and mixed lineups.
- Realistic: The announcement described battles without markers, nation-versus-nation lineups, and different respawn rules.
For the beta’s initial launch, Gaijin listed PC on Windows, Linux, and Mac, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series consoles. That is a historical statement about the test, not confirmation that access is currently open or that the same platforms and requirements apply to a later phase.
When is War Thunder infantry coming out?
There is no confirmed public release date in the official announcements cited here. Gaijin’s updates describe successive closed beta phases and continuing technical work, so the supported status is testing and development—not a general-release launch.
The War Thunder Wiki lists a stage 3.5 test for October 1–4, 2026, and says the mode remains under development. That date is secondary-source reporting; it is not independently confirmed by the official Gaijin updates cited here. Check the War Thunder Wiki’s Line of Contact entry for its listing, while treating it as distinct from an official release announcement.
What the player-count updates actually mean
Gaijin’s March 23, 2026 announcement planned 64-versus-64 battles—128 players in a session—and described solo infantry play without bot squads. That figure was a planned format, not proof that the mode could sustain matches at that scale. The March test announcement described the intended setup.
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In an April 29, 2026 update, Gaijin said the March test exposed technical limits in sustaining that scale for extended periods without bots. The company said it had optimized server code and network interactions, and planned to begin the next phase at 20-versus-20 before gradually increasing toward 128 players if server stability allowed. Gaijin described the next phase’s goal as testing those improvements under real-world game loads. Its update explains the stability caveat and ramp-up plan.
For the third testing phase, Gaijin introduced Kivu, which it described as the largest infantry test location to date—roughly four times the size of previous locations. The announcement planned 64-versus-64 battles after server optimizations. Both the map-size comparison and player count are Gaijin’s descriptions and plans, not independent measurements or confirmation of sustained performance. Gaijin’s Kivu announcement provides those details.
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Why the reveal matters—and what it does not prove
Line of Contact would move War Thunder beyond its familiar vehicle-centered battles by putting controllable soldiers into the same fights as tanks and helicopters, with urban objectives designed around buildings and close-quarters combat. That is a meaningful change in the game’s announced scope. But the word “shocks” in the reveal headline should not be read as evidence of widespread player surprise: the announcements establish what Gaijin revealed and planned to test, not representative audience reaction or player satisfaction.
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