World of Tanks' transformative 2.0 update has arrived, and it's absolutely huge

Think you know World of Tanks? Think again. The iconic wargame has shaken things up with its massive new 2.0 update, fifteen years after it first launched. That's not all, either. Whether you're a battle-hardened tank commander or a fresh-faced new recruit, there's plenty of free goodies to be claimed, from in-game currency to premium account access and more.

World of Tanks developer Wargaming boasts that update 2.0, out now, is "transformative," and that's certainly true. Virtually every aspect of the online war game has undergone some tweak or other.

For a start, the game's user interface has been given an overhaul, which should make it more accessible for all, newcomers included. On top of that there are 16 new tier XI tanks, which are being introduced through Operation Boiling Point, a massive new PvE campaign. 

350 of the game's existing vehicles have also been rebalanced to ensure fairer gameplay. There's also a new map, Nordskar, set in Scandinavia, and hangars have been upgraded to effectively be tank factories.

What's really impressed us is that Wargaming has gone back to basics with World of Tanks' audio. The game now includes "heavier, more authentic tank sounds recorded from real vehicles, clearer combat audio and immersive soundscape that brings every battle to life."

But what about that free stuff, I hear you ask? How can you claim the myriad bounties that World of Tanks Update 2.0 brings? It's just a matter of logging into the game any time between now and the next WoT update, which will drop in the middle of October. The rewards you receive will depend upon how new you are to World of Tanks.

If you created your World of Tanks account before Update 2.0 arrived, you'll receive a full tech tree branch (tier VI-X), a resource pack with 2,500 Gold, 15,000 Bonds, ten million Credits, 60 days of premium account status, and more.

Or, if you created your account after Update 2.0 arrived, you'll get: two full tech tree branches (tier VI-X), three additional premium tanks, 60 days of premium account status, six million credits, and more. 

So, if you've never played World of Tanks, or if you've stepped away from the game, now's a good time to get back behind the controls. You can download World of Tanks here, and for more wargaming freebies, World of Warships is celebrating its tenth anniversary with free stuff.

If you're looking for even more tank-filled goodness, we have a list of all the best tank games, because of course we do. Or you're an avid historian, we've rounded up the best WW2 games.

You can share your tales of victory (or defeat) on our  community Discord server, where tank-related puns will be kept to a minimum. Probably.