The Tool Desk
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What “free” means for War Thunder
Valve’s Steamworks documentation defines the category this way: “Free to Play games are free for customers to download.” The same passage notes that such games sometimes contain in-game purchases. War Thunder fits that definition. Its Steam store listing carries the free-to-play label, and the download costs nothing.
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The useful distinction is between entry cost and optional spending. Entry cost is zero. Optional spending covers items that change how quickly you move through the game or what extra content you can access, and none of it is a condition for playing.
How the in-game economy works
War Thunder uses two earned resources and one premium currency. Gaijin’s official economy article on the War Thunder Wiki, last dated 12 July 2020, lays out how they relate.
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- The entire database of aircraft War Thunder games at your fingertips. All models of aircraft and their description are available to you regardless of location and without the need for interneta.Entsiklopediya War Thunder, it's not just a simple description of all the trees of the art in the game, but also a strong argument for the various differences and any matters of engineering models for players who are away from your computer.
Silver Lions and Research Points: earned through battles
Silver Lions (SL) are earned after each battle. The amount depends on the game mode, your activity and performance, and the battle outcome. You spend them on vehicle purchases and crew training after research, as well as on vehicle modifications, repairs, ammunition, and similar costs. Research Points (RP) unlock new vehicles and modifications as you progress through a research tree.
Golden Eagles: the premium currency
Golden Eagles (GE) are the premium currency. The wiki states that spending them is not mandatory to progress. What they offer is faster progression, quality-of-life improvements, and bonus items. Gaijin’s store page lists the current uses of Golden Eagles:
Rank #2
- Experience the story of a carrier - Witness the adventures of Admiral Lucas Stark and Hideaki Hashimoto, the captains of aircraft carriers in the Pacific ocean in WWII.
- Protect your carrier - Take control of the ship's cannon turrets in Survive Mode.
- Enter the watchtower - Look out for enemies and discover new missions.
- Control whole squadrons - Instead of controlling just one airplane, you can control all aircrafts in your squadron in the respective mission.
- Challenging gameplay - Every plane can only be equipped with a limited amount of ammunition, requiring you to strategically switch between the different planes of a squadron.
- premium vehicles
- Silver Lions
- converting Research Points
- modifications
- talismans
- backup vehicles
- extra crew slots and crew experience
- skins and decals
- boosters and trophies
Because this list is maintained by the store, individual items and prices can change. Check the store page for current inventory before buying.
Warbonds and vehicle packs
Warbonds are a separate purchasable item in the economy and are described in the same wiki article. Store bundles may include vehicles, Golden Eagles, and Premium Account time. Bundles are the most common route to a specific vehicle without grinding its research tree, but they are optional.
Rank #3
- Innovation in the Sky: Breathtaking clouds coupled with highly detailed aircraft and photorealistic scenery makes this the most engaging Ace Combat to date.
- Return to Strangereal: The alternative Ace Combat universe composed of real-world current and near-future weapons, but with a history steeped in Ace Combat lore.
- All new arsenal of ultra-modern super weapons and formidable enemies.
Premium Account: paid and time-limited
Premium Account is a paid membership with a fixed duration. The War Thunder Wiki’s Premium Account article, dated 26 September 2024, lists the following bonuses as published by the developer:
- +100% Research Points in all game modes
- +50% Silver Lions for active actions in Random Battles
- +100% Silver Lions for battle time in Random Battles
- +50% Silver Lions in other game modes
- quality-of-life options, including additional decal slots and map rotation controls
These percentages are the developer’s listed values, not independently measured results. Premium time can be bought in-game with Golden Eagles or with real money through the Gaijin Store.
Rank #4
- Realsitic Pack of AirStrikers
- Easy to control
- HD Graphics
- Play worldwide
- Use On Screen controls
Buying in a bundle: what the store terms say
Gaijin’s store FAQ explains how bundles behave, which matters because the terms are easy to misread:
- Premium time from a pack begins expiring on your first game login. The exception is when you were already in the game at the moment of purchase; then the time updates automatically.
- Virtual items are sold as non-refundable licenses. The stated exception covers technical problems, such as duplicate charges.
Read the current terms on the store before you purchase, because refund and expiry rules are the kind of detail that changes.
Best Value
- 49 varied missions taking place across 7 unique campaigns, each based on real resistance movements in WWII
- 20+ locations allow the player to fly through environments that immerse them in the era
- Pilot more than 20 individual aircraft, in both WWI and WWII settings
- Online Multiplayer - with 5 different modes and up to 8 players: Deathmatch, Everyone against Everyone, Team Deathmatch, Capture the Flag, Destroy & Protect
- Fly in both World War I & II - the only game that allows you to fly in both the great wars of the twentieth century with innovative 'Flashback Missions'
Where you buy depends on your platform
The purchase route is not the same on every platform. Gaijin’s FAQ describes the following, and the table shows where the source is silent:
| Platform | Golden Eagles | Vehicle packs and bundles | Premium Account time |
|---|---|---|---|
| PC via Steam | Bought through the in-game Golden Eagles menu | Steam’s listing shows paid digital vehicle packs | Bought in-game with GE or via the Gaijin Store (per the Premium Account article) |
| PlayStation | Sold through the Gaijin store for PlayStation accounts | Must be bought through the PlayStation Store | Not stated in the store FAQ |
| Xbox | Sold through the Gaijin store for Xbox accounts | Must be bought through the Microsoft Store | Not stated in the store FAQ |
Regional pricing can differ. Gaijin says regional prices require regular residence in that region and a locally issued bank card. The FAQ also mentions store-only premium vehicles that appear in research trees, so a vehicle you see in a tree may not be earned through play alone.
Checking the source dates
The economy article and the Premium Account article carry dates of July 2020 and September 2024. Store pages and the Steam listing were accessed on 7 October 2026. Where the wiki’s percentages or the store’s offerings differ from what you see in the game, trust the in-game information and the current store page.
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Practical approach for a free player
- Download the game from Steam or the console store for your platform. No purchase is required.
- Play the research trees and earn Silver Lions and Research Points through battles.
- If you consider a purchase, check the current store page for the item, the platform route, and the refund terms.
- Decide whether the time or convenience is worth the price for you. Golden Eagles and Premium Account are optional at every stage.
The economy does not require you to buy anything. Optional purchases can shorten the path to a particular vehicle or add quality-of-life features, but they are not an entry fee.
Quick Recap
The Bottom Line
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
