World of Tanks: HEAT Launches May 26 as a Free-To-Play Hero Shooter
This marks Wargaming's first major genre pivot for the World of Tanks franchise, shifting from simulation-style armored warfare to a character-driven hero shooter format.
Reporting from 3 sources: 4Gamer.net, GAME Watch (Impress), Game Spark.
Wargaming announced that World of Tanks: HEAT, a new free-to-play hero shooter set in the World of Tanks universe, will release on May 26, 2026. The game departs from the series' traditional tank combat, instead offering agent-based 10v10 battles where players pilot customized tanks with unique abilities. At launch, the game will include eight agents divided into three roles (Defender, Attacker, Sniper), 15 vehicles, eight maps, and four PvP modes: Hardpoint, Control, Kill Confirmed, and Conquest. It supports cross-platform play across PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. A cinematic trailer directed by Ilya Naishuller, featuring music from his band Biting Elbows, accompanied the announcement.
The eight launch agents are split into three roles: Defender, Attacker, and Sniper, each commanding two vehicles tailored to their combat style. The 15 vehicles can be fully customized with modules and equipment. The eight maps span diverse biomes and visual styles, designed to support multiple playstyles across the four PvP modes. The cinematic trailer, directed by Ilya Naishuller (known for Hardcore Henry and Nobody), features music from his band Biting Elbows. The game will be available on Steam, the Wargaming.net Game Center, and GeForce NOW in addition to consoles.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 3 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.
Sources
- 4Gamer.net WoTがエージェント主体のヒーローシューターに。基本プレイ無料新作「World of Tanks: HEAT」，5月26日リリース。PC，PS5，Xbox Series X|Sのクロスプラットフォームに対応
- GAME Watch (Impress) 「World of Tanks: HEAT」、5月26日にリリース決定！ シリーズ初のクロスプラットフォーム展開へ イリヤ・ナイシュラー監督によるシネマティックトレーラー公開
- Game Spark 戦車ヒーローシューター『World of Tanks: HEAT』5月26日リリース―基本プレイ無料でPS5/XSX|S/PC向けに | Game*Spark - 国内・海外ゲーム情報サイト