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Update 1.1: Exploring New and Revamped Maps

Update 1.1 is around the corner and it features new and improved maps. This article takes you from the heart of Wargaming’s history to the Polish battlefields of Studzianki and explains what to expect with these fresh locales. We’ll also dive into all the details of the improvements to older maps, so let’s get started!

New Maps

Minsk

Minsk occupies a special place in our hearts — it’s where it all started for World of Tanks. A city with a vast heritage and wonderful people, it will finally take its place in the list of maps in World of Tanks. The whole team is very excited as it nears full release; after all, we’ve been planning to pay homage to the city for years.

The first playable prototype was created around the same time we introduced Kharkov and Stalingrad, but didn’t make it past this stage. We learned an important lesson before resuming work on the map: while historical accuracy might be appealing, it doesn’t always provide an enjoyable experience (unless you’re looking for a virtual tour rather than a battle, of course). That’s why we’re designing the map around real locations (Victory Square, the State Circus, Gorky Park, etc.) while also changing its general layout to keep the gameplay exciting and rewarding.

This urban map recreates the central part of Minsk in the beginning of the 1970s. Though we changed some details for the sake of gameplay, the Plošča Pieramohi (Victory Square) and the circus building, for example, are very realistic. Other houses and landmarks are also recognizable for those who have visited Minsk or currently live there.

The map has three gameplay zones:

  • Columns 1–2
  • Columns 3–7
  • Columns 8–0

The Lenin Avenue / Kupala Street intersection is good for mobile vehicles. Take firing positions quickly or try to flank the opposing side.

The zone formed by Gorky Park and the Svislach river embankment is covered in trees and bushes and has several mounds. It’s a tricky place: enemies can hit you from almost every direction, but playing wisely will let you support allies on the flanks or encroach on your opponents undetected.

Dense building blocks near the Plošča Pieramohi protect you from tank destroyer fire, and favor well-armored vehicles and close-to-mid-range fighting. You can also try to snipe—if you’re bold enough to roll out on straight and broad streets.

 

Studzianki

Studzianki was the location of a weeklong battle between the invading German forces and the native Polish 1st Armoured Brigade and Soviet 8th Army on the Eastern Front. For the allied forces, it was a resounding success and was later commemorated in 1969, becoming Studzianki Pancerne (Armoured Studzianki).

The map features large fields, lots of vegetation, and small village houses centered around a tall Catholic church. A small brick factory sits right in the middle of this map.

There are three gameplay zones on the map:

  • Rows A-C
  • Rows D-F
  • Rows G-K

The brick factory is for those driving vehicles with thick hides. It’s protected from artillery fire but you may feel shells coming from other parts of the map. Control the factory to help your allies extend their attacks on neighboring routes or to defend, should you lose the flanks. The dried riverbed splitting the factory is a place of interest for fast light tanks and for vehicles with good gun depression: here you can secure a flank promptly.

The central part of the map can be used to spot enemies at the beginning of the battle. It suits light tanks and fast mediums. A ditch goes from the factory to the village; use it to spot the opponents or to flank them when they least expect it. The field is surrounded by hills with some concealing shrubbery offering nice striking positions and a safe passage to the village.

The village is a place for every vehicle class: lots of cover (both destructible and indestructible), bushes, and shoot-throughs. Capture it to assist your teammates at the factory or to set up a final assault on the enemy base.

 

Major Changes to Pilsen

Pilsen felt too small and gave little in terms of gameplay to turretless TDs and thinly armored vehicles. Medium tanks kept away from the center of the east flank since it offered no cover from arty shells. The west flank had way too many shoot-through zones, which prevented both teams from pushing/defending certain directions and turned battles into a fine frenzy. Once you entered this area, you were effectively stuck there with no way to retreat or advance. Finally, the central area promoted camping since the impassable big hangar there was a death trap for anyone reckless enough to move past it.

Addressing your feedback, we enlarged the map to 1x1 km, added cover spots and increased the distance between hangars on the left flank, removed some of the buildings in no-man's land in the center, and completely redesigned the eastern (right) flank.

These changes should foster a more versatile experience, while also making the map friendly for all vehicle classes.

The lowland with hangars is now on the same level as the rest of the map, opening clear shots all the way to the middle area.

Hangars were repositioned to provide favorable shooting distances; now they’re scattered across the center of the flank, putting an end to quick break-throughs that used to happen way too often here.

Hangars were repositioned to provide favorable shooting distances. Now, they’re scattered across the center of the flank, putting an end to quick break-throughs that used to happen way too often here.

We’ve added hills to the north- and south-west. If you’re driving a TD, leverage them to help protect the base and/or hold enemies that are using the road to the left from the hangars to break into your territory.

Now, you can crossover to the left flank using a newly added road close to the hangar (3).

The distance between bases has increased, with both camps getting cover spots to set up a solid defensive line to protect their bases.

A few buildings disappeared, so you now have a clear shot at bases from the center of the map.

A few buildings disappeared, so you now have a clear shot at bases from the center of the map.

The right flank’s been through a complete makeover. Now, it’s less about brute force and more about mobile lights and mediums working together among coal hills (5). Scouts can poke over hillsides to detect enemies lying in cover nearby and in TD spots (6). Mediums should keep behind lights and fire on anything that’s been spotted. TDs are tasked with hunting down lights and mediums between hills and taking down enemy TDs that were careless enough to expose themselves.

The far-right edge of the map now features a long, straight railroad with dense shrubs and hardly any other cover. Circumventing the enemy would take you a few steps closer to winning the battle. Make sure you’ve got support in the hills before you head there, though. You’ll need them to distract enemy TDs after you spot them. Then, move ahead to destroy enemy arty that’s likely to hide there. Stay alert: without any hard cover, you should expect SPG fire if you are spotted and staying still.

 

Changes to Current Maps

Now that it’s all been said and done, the battlefields are waiting for heated clashes. Enter the battle to show what you’ve got!

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