Remember when you first discovered you could pause a game and just admire the view? That magic moment when you realized your favorite tank shooter wasn’t just about the action, but about the incredible worlds developers had built around you? War Thunder players are about to get their biggest chance yet to show off those perfect pause-worthy moments.
The long-running military simulator just launched its 215th screenshot competition, and this time they’re literally taking things to new heights. The theme? ‘From Above’ – challenging players to capture the battlefield from an elevated or aerial perspective.
“Screenshot Competition – From Above! Welcome to the 215th War Thunder Steam Screenshot Competition! We enjoyed seeing the range of screenshots shared last week! This time, we’re focusing on scenes viewed from above. Capture a screenshot from an elevated or aerial perspective, showcasing the battlefield from above the action!” — @Blitzkrieg Wulf
The competition is already getting players excited about flexing their inner war photographer skills. There’s something special about seeing a massive tank battle or aerial dogfight from way up high – it turns chaotic combat into something almost artistic. Six lucky winners will walk away with 300 Golden Eagles each, split evenly between community favorites and judge selections.
It’s not just about having a good eye though. The rules are pretty strict this time around, and some players aren’t thrilled about all the restrictions. Screenshots have to be completely raw – no editing software, no fancy Nvidia filters, nothing but what War Thunder gives you naturally. You can use the built-in replay system and War Thunder’s own filters, but that’s it.
The authenticity requirements are causing some headaches too. Your shot has to be brand new, never published before, and you absolutely have to be the original photographer. Some community members are grumbling that these rules make it tough for casual players who might not know all the ins and outs of screenshot composition.
Plus, there’s that #WTscreen215 tag requirement – your submission title can’t have any other text in it. One typo or extra word and your masterpiece gets disqualified. It’s giving some players flashbacks to those school assignments where you’d lose points for tiny formatting mistakes.
But here’s the thing about War Thunder’s screenshot contests – they’ve been doing this for 215 rounds now, which means there’s a whole community of virtual photographers who’ve been perfecting their craft for years. These competitions have become less about winning prizes and more about celebrating the incredible moments that happen when dozens of players come together in massive battles.
There’s something beautifully nostalgic about it all. It reminds me of those old days when you’d spend hours in photo mode in games like Grand Theft Auto or Halo, trying to get that perfect action shot to show your friends. War Thunder has taken that childhood joy and turned it into a regular celebration of player creativity.
The aerial perspective theme is particularly clever because it highlights one of War Thunder’s biggest strengths – the sheer scale of its battles. When you’re down in a tank, focused on the next enemy, it’s easy to miss how epic everything looks from above. Those sweeping views of armored columns rolling across landscapes, or fighter planes weaving through clouds of flak – that’s the stuff gaming memories are made of.
It also shows how far gaming photography has come. We’ve gone from taking grainy screenshots with Print Screen to having entire communities dedicated to capturing digital art. War Thunder’s monthly contests have helped nurture a generation of players who see beauty in virtual battlefields.
The competition runs until March 20th, giving players just five days to find their perfect shot. That might sound like a lot, but anyone who’s tried to get the timing right on an action screenshot knows how tricky it can be. You need the perfect angle, the right lighting, and just enough chaos to make things interesting without everything being a blurry mess.
Submissions go through the War Thunder Steam Community Hub, where the community voting portion will play out over the coming days. Winners get their Golden Eagles within two weeks – not a bad payout for doing something you probably would have done anyway.
Whether you’re a longtime War Thunder veteran or someone who just enjoys seeing what players can create when they’re given the right tools, this competition is worth following. The 214th edition’s ‘Pioneers of Battle’ theme produced some stunning shots, and the aerial focus of round 215 promises to showcase the game from angles many players never think to explore.
So if you’ve got War Thunder installed, maybe take a break from the usual grind and spend some time with your camera. After all, the best screenshots often come from those quiet moments when you’re not trying to win – just trying to capture something beautiful.
