World of Tanks

After the PC (2011) and Xbox (2014) releases, World of Tanks got ported to the PlayStation 4 platform. The full game is free to download and play and does not require a PlayStation Plus subscription. A PSN account is needed for downloading and online play.

The game features over 350 different tanks, from five different classes (light tank, medium tank, heavy tank, tank destroyer, and artillery) and seven nations (USA, Germany, UK, USSR, France, Japan, and China). The game supports 30-player online mode, pitting 15 against 15 players. The PlayStation 4 release features new content that was not previously available on the PC or Xbox 360/One releases, some of which include custom maps, custom tanks, and custom vehicle skins.

The launch for PlayStation 4 platform, however, started with around 130 tanks from only three nations (USA, Germany, and USSR) with the rest being gradually added. Beta exclusive US tanks which can be found in one's Garage include T1E6-PS with elite camouflage and M22 Locust-PS adorned with a color scheme of the original PlayStation console. PlayStation Plus subscribers will additionally get access to an exclusive German premium tank, Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. J PS adorned with a unique darkened camouflage featuring a "pinup girl" livery.

The Launch release also features these two time-exclusive multiplayer maps:

• Skorpion Pass - set in North Africa during WWII. At the time of release, this was the largest map created for the game
• Ruinberg - set in a war-torn European town better suited for urban warfare, with fields that allow for outmaneuvering enemy tanks

The console version of World of Tanks feels like a completely different game in comparison to the PC version. Aside from various aesthetic designs, different settings and presentation, same and different maps, things worth mentioning include:

• Console version doesn't have separate download releases per region and during startup, the player can connect to either a US, European, or Asian server. This in turn also means the same Hall of Fame ladder on the Internet features all players independent on the region (while PC one has different for Europe, US, etc.).
• When creating a Platoon to play with other players on the same team, console versions supports up to 5 players, while the PC version only 3 (PC, does, however, include an option to create a platoon during actual gameplay by prompting another player to join your platoon).
• The PC version allows the upgrade of individual tank elements (turret, caterpillar, cannon, engine, and radio), while console versions have pre-set packages that are researched and purchased. These include several of those elements at once and don't offer individual element upgrades.
• While the PC version relies on the keyboard and allows players to type to their platoon, team, or even enemy players, the console version relies on a bunch of pre-set messages (some of which are also available on the PC version), the chat is available in both version though there are differences.
• Console versions have only 1 crewman per tank, while on PC that is branched out into driver, loader, gunner, etc., and the number of crew depends on the type of tank. Also, not all crew are compatible with all vehicle types, while on console version vehicle type doesn't matter, only nationality (i.e. German crewman can only be assigned to a German tank).
• Aiming at an enemy tank on a console version outlines the tank based on where you're aiming, telling you how big of a chance is for penetration of that area if you land a successful hit, the PC version just generally outlines a tank in green and doesn't show you whether you're bullet will bounce off or if you have a chance to penetrate its armor.
• Aiming artillery on PC just shows a trajectory line, but on consoles, it shows the time that the bullet will travel to the target, which can be as long as 3-4 seconds on longer distances. This plays a huge factor when an enemy tank isn't completely static.