Gaijin Entertainment’s War Thunder frequently captures headlines for a consistent reason: its community takes the game intensely seriously, often leaking classified information in online debates. Recently, however, the focus has shifted to a new feature—an auction system introduced on February 3.

This system allows players to bid on cosmetic items using ‘Gaijin Coin’, an in-game currency purchasable with real money. Such a setup, combined with the urgency of time-limited item sales, has sparked player outrage. While this feature permits limited bidding on player-created cosmetics, suspicions arise about its potential evolution into something more detrimental, particularly the sale of actual vehicles, which is considered a sensitive core aspect of the game.

Gaijin has not expressed any intent to sell vehicles but player concern is rife. The platform has witnessed a surge in negative feedback, leading to a form of review bombing as players share their discontent across forums and social platforms. Many believe the auction might pave the way for further monetization akin to practices seen in World of Tanks.

Statements from the community reflect a lack of trust toward Gaijin Entertainment, with a belief that once this auction system takes root, it will expand into more lucrative offerings, thus warranting strong backlash and ongoing scrutiny.

One player remarked, “Give it a year and they’ll have exclusive vehicles in it,” indicating a deep-seated fear of shifting game dynamics towards cash grabs and commercialization.