War Thunder pilots and tank commanders, your wallets are about to take some damage. Gaijin Entertainment just launched their traditional May Sale today, and the discounts are pretty impressive. If you’ve been holding off on grabbing that premium account or expensive vehicle, now’s your chance.
The sale kicked off this morning at 11:00 GMT and runs through May 7th. That’s a full week to decide what you want. The headline deal is 50% off Premium Accounts for 90, 180, and 365-day periods. Premium time in War Thunder isn’t cheap normally, so cutting it in half is actually a big deal.
“War Thunder’s May Sale Is Here! As per tradition, we’re holding a big sale at the beginning of May, featuring vehicles, upgrades, consumables, and Premium Account time. It’s time to find great deals!” – War Thunder on Steam
The vehicle discounts aren’t bad either. You’re looking at 30% off when buying with Golden Eagles or Silver Lions. That applies to all nations too, so whether you’re into American fighters or Soviet tanks, you’re covered. The discount works on pretty much everything except Squadron vehicles and the newest stuff from recent updates.
Upgrades and modifications also get the 30% treatment. That includes talismans and backups, which can add up fast if you’re grinding multiple tech trees. For players who’ve been putting off those expensive modifications, this could save some serious in-game currency.
What’s interesting is how Gaijin structures these sales. The first phase focuses on the core game content – vehicles, upgrades, and premium time. It’s straightforward and hits the stuff most players actually want. No weird bundle complications or limited-time mystery boxes.
The sale works through both Steam and the Gaijin Store. If you’re playing through Steam, you can access the Gaijin Store through the in-game hangar. Just go to Shop, then Online Store. It’s pretty seamless once you know where to look.
Timing-wise, this makes sense for Gaijin. May is traditionally a slower month for gaming as people get outside more. A big sale keeps the player base engaged and brings back lapsed players who might have been waiting for a deal. War Thunder’s economy can be pretty grindy without premium time, so these sales often hook players back in.
The 50% premium discount is particularly smart. Premium accounts in War Thunder dramatically speed up research and silver lion earning. Once players experience that faster progression, it’s hard to go back to the free-to-play grind. Getting people hooked on premium time at half price often leads to full-price renewals later.
For new players, this is probably the best time to jump in seriously. The combination of vehicle discounts and premium time means you can build up a decent garage without spending a fortune. Veteran players get a chance to fill gaps in their collections or finally grab that expensive premium vehicle they’ve been eyeing.
One thing to note – Squadron vehicles are excluded from the sale. These are the vehicles you earn through squadron activity, not direct purchase. Recent major updates are also excluded, which makes sense. Gaijin isn’t going to discount their newest content right away.
The sale structure shows Gaijin knows their audience. War Thunder players are pretty savvy about when to spend money. They wait for sales like this rather than paying full price. The company has learned to make these events feel special rather than just random discounts.
What’s coming next looks even more interesting. Phase two starts May 7th and runs until May 14th. That’s when the rare vehicle bundles drop. Gaijin hasn’t revealed details yet, but these bundle events usually feature vehicles that aren’t normally available. Think premium vehicles that were removed from regular sale or special event rewards.
These bundle phases often get more attention than the main sale. Rare vehicles in War Thunder can be worth hundreds of dollars on secondary markets when they’re no longer available. Getting them during official sales is usually the only legitimate way to add them to your hangar.
If you’re planning to spend money on War Thunder this year, this week is probably your best shot. The combination of broad discounts and upcoming rare bundles covers pretty much every type of purchase. Just remember that premium time discounts like this don’t come around too often, so it might be worth grabbing a longer period while it’s half price.
