In addition to playing on monitors, the PC version of War Thunder supports virtual reality (VR) devices. All modes are available with VR devices, but playing aircraft is the best way to play. Pilots have access to hundreds of detailed cockpits, and with the addition of throttle and control stick controllers, you'll have a full-fledged aviation simulator at home!
VR mode on PC
VR support was first introduced to the game in 2013 for the original Oculus Rift devices. In 2016, support was extended to the HTC Vive and other similar virtual reality systems.
With Update 2.7 "Red Skies", War Thunder's VR mode moved to the OpenXR standard, which significantly improved image quality and added support for all compatible devices.
To activate VR mode, go to the game's launcher and turn on the "VR" switch. Alternatively, when playing through Steam, you will be offered the option to run the game in VR mode using SteamVR at launch.
VR mode on consoles
VR mode is not available on console versions of War Thunder. However, in 2023, with the release of the PlayStation VR2, it was announced that a VR spin-off of War Thunder would be developed for PC and PS5 console. On July 16, 2024, the trailer for Aces of Thunder was released — a VR game focused purely on aerial combat with legendary aircraft and famous locations.