To get rid of the lion, an elephant is brought in. To get rid of the cat, a dog is brought in, and to get rid of the dog, a lion is brought in. The addition of subs, however, complicates a game that has long faced the circular problem of “balance.” This is best illustrated with the children’s story of a homeowner who tried to solve a mouse problem by getting a cat. Submarines can’t stay underwater forever, and will have to surface as they run out of oxygen. The company said so far, more than 28 million people worldwide have registered to play the game on PC. To broaden interest, Wargaming has also added player-versus-environment and clan battles. In each match, up to 12 ships battle on an ocean map with naval gunfire, bombs, and torpedoes.
Some basic principles of World of Warships won’t change. It’s a cat-and-mouse, and dog-and-lion game These moves could give the player population a much-needed boost. But Wargaming wants to broaden the appeal of World of Warships beyond naval enthusiasts and those who live to watch black-and-white Victory At Sea re-runs from a leather recliner in the den. It’s also a pretty big about-face, because the company has pledged multiple times never to add them to the team-based game. Why this matters: This dive into the briny deep marks a drastic change for the free-to-play naval combat game, which has focused solely on surface combat since its inception three years ago. World of Warships is known for its meticulously modelling of ships such as the H.M.S. Wargaming officials said submersibles will be added as the permanent 5th class of vessels alongside World War II-era battleships, cruisers, destroyers, and aircraft carriers.
Submarines, however, aren’t just a short-term gag. The company will let players sample submarines for the first time as part of a temporary Halloween gag, where ships and subs take on spooky themes.
Gamers can get a taste of the silent service October 31. Free-to-play naval combat game World of Warships will make a drastic and controversial U-turn and add submarines to the mix next year, Wargaming officials announced Tuesday morning.