World of Tanks Blitz, developed by Wargaming, is celebrating its 10th anniversary. The game has achieved significant success, generating over $1 billion in lifetime revenue and amassing 180 million registered players. Thaine Lyman, the general manager of MS-1 Studios at Wargaming, highlights that World of Tanks Blitz is a true mobile game, offering an immersive tank fighting experience rather than a simplistic time-based game. The mobile game has overcome challenges, such as optimizing performance across various mobile devices and finding the right audience for on-the-go tank battles.
Over the years, World of Tanks Blitz has expanded to other platforms like Windows 10, Steam, MacOS, and Nintendo Switch. It now supports full crossplay and crossprogression, enabling players to enjoy the game seamlessly across different devices. The game has also improved its graphics fidelity and performance, boasting 30 maps, 11 game modes, and over 500 historical tanks. To celebrate its 10th anniversary, World of Tanks Blitz has planned a series of in-game events throughout the year.
In an interview with GamesBeat, Thaine Lyman discussed the game’s evolution and its focus on providing a fun and customizable tank battle experience. While the PC version of World of Tanks appeals to a more mature audience with its historical and military focus, World of Tanks Blitz caters to a younger audience, including Gen Z players. The game has embraced a more fantastical and customizable approach, offering non-historical skins and allowing players to express their creativity in personalizing their tanks. Lyman notes that non-historical skins tend to be more popular among players, emphasizing the importance of self-expression in the game.
World of Tanks Blitz has also shifted its focus from historical events to pop culture integrations and collaborations. Recent events have included crossovers with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Star Trek. The game’s development team aims to provide fresh and exciting content to keep players engaged, with upcoming events like the Mad Games returning for a limited time. The team is also working on major technical updates and expanding the narrative and themes of the game.
The game’s success can be attributed to its dedicated development team, which has grown to over 300 individuals spread across multiple locations, including Vilnius, Lithuania, and Warsaw, Poland. The team’s diverse backgrounds and perspectives have contributed to the game’s appeal to a wide audience. World of Tanks Blitz has also embraced crossplay, allowing players to enjoy the game on different platforms without losing their progress.
Despite challenges like the Apple privacy push, which impacted advertising and user acquisition efforts, the team at World of Tanks Blitz remains focused on delivering a fun and engaging game. They continue to listen to player feedback and adapt accordingly, ensuring that the game stays fresh and enjoyable. Thaine Lyman remains optimistic about the future of the gaming industry, emphasizing the importance of creating great games that provide a fun experience for players. He believes that as long as the industry continues to prioritize player enjoyment, it will thrive despite any challenges that may arise.