I don't think this game is getting enough love and discussion here. It's the F2P successor to the two PS360 games "IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey" and "Birds of Steel". Any fan of Aces over Europe or Aces over the Pacific from Sierra would feel right at home.
It is cross platform with PC gamers so the community will be quite vast on day 1.
Here's a new-ish interview with Gaijin Entertainment about War Thunder, the first Russian game to launch with a game console.
http://www.psu.com/a021372/War-Thunder-interview---Gaijin-talks-PS4-launch-with-consoles-most-action-packed-MMO
It is cross platform with PC gamers so the community will be quite vast on day 1.
Here's a new-ish interview with Gaijin Entertainment about War Thunder, the first Russian game to launch with a game console.
http://www.psu.com/a021372/War-Thunder-interview---Gaijin-talks-PS4-launch-with-consoles-most-action-packed-MMO
PSU: How does it feel to be involved in a pivotal moment in gaming history with the release of the next-generation of Sony’s consoles and one of the major launch titles for PS4?
GE: Our company is the first Russian developer to make a game for PS4, and this new generation in general. And this is a first time when a Russian game becomes a launch-title on any platform. Of course, we’re very proud of this, and doing our best!
PSU:What inspiration and materials have you used to help you represent World War II as authentically as possible?
GE: Well, it’ll be better if I just provide this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZ8foF7bktQ
This is only a glimpse of all our research that goes into development – hiring consultants, visiting military museums all around the world, recording real engine and guns sounds, etc.
PSU:You’ve worked with Sony’s DualShock controller before with the likes of L-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey and Birds of Steel. Do you think the DualShock 4 brings with it any extra functionality that improves the flight combat genre?
GE: It has a touchpad which helps incredibly when navigating the menus, and improved design overall. Also we implemented innovative control method as well which works like a mouselook on PC – you only need to choose the direction with a stick and the plane will fly there itself. But it’s better to try than explain this.
PSU:What features does the PS4 have that helps to make War Thunder the game that you envisioned?
GE: For a start, we’ll support PlayStation Camera, which will be used for head-tracking – so you can look around in battle freely. And we may support new devices developed by Sony if they'll fit into our game nicely
PSU:Will PS4 gamers be able to drive tanks at launch? We’ve heard that infantry troops are incoming. Will this be A.I. controlled infantry, or do you see a time where players can control ground troops, perhaps to command anti-aircraft missiles etc?
GE: The tanks will be available on PS4 until the end of this year together with PC version, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be out on day one. And we aren’t going to implement any infantry in our game – War Thunder is a combat vehicles simulation, not multiplayer FPS and it’s not going to turn into one.