Free-to-play tank 'em up World of Tanks is getting a sizeable overhaul in patch 8.0, with new movement physics and a graphical revamp which runs faster while looking fancier.

The updated engine adds support for deferred shading, fancier water and other gubbins, but the main improvement seems to be that it's simply much faster. Heaps more detail is being added to maps but Wagaming claims they'll still run just as fast as ever, or even faster. Ten maps are being updated at first for version 8.0, with more to come in later patches.

8.0 will also bring new tank movement physics, which Wargaming says are jolly realistic. It's adding five new Soviet tank destroyers and the experimental Matilda Black Prince for the Brits too.

Screenshots and a new trailer arrived today with a brief look at 8.0's improvements, but here's a slightly older, more in-depth look at World of Tanks' shiny new graphics:

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