Recent reviews by BIG MAN BLASTOISE

yes

The game, originally launched as a free-to-play title, has gradually seen a shift away from this model.

War Thunder is indeed a unique gaming experience that offers an extensive damage system and the chance to command a vast array of meticulously crafted tanks, aircraft, and ships. This singularity, however, has led to a dearth of competition over the years for its developer, Gaijin.
Over time, Gaijin has continually expanded the game, adding new nations and vehicles. Yet, simultaneously, they have been hiking up repair costs and reducing the gains from Research Points and Silver Lions. Nowadays, a premium account isn't sufficient to ensure smooth progress; the purchase of premium vehicles across all nations has become a necessity.
Gaijin's recent admission that they balance free vehicles with the intention of average players experiencing a negative Silver Lions income has further illuminated this issue. In other words, the game's design essentially pushes players towards purchasing top-tier premium vehicles.
This approach not only speaks of greed but also detrimentally impacts the game's matchmaker and balance. With the most profits coming from premium vehicles, they tend to be overrepresented. Battle rating 8.7 is particularly notorious, where over half of each team's players are often seen operating premium tanks. This leads to a widespread issue known as "one death leaving" - players who, after their premium tank is destroyed, abandon the game, thereby compromising their team's position.
The blame for this lies largely with Gaijin and their intentionally exasperating economy. The game is riddled with numerous other issues and controversies, such as the inability to repair or extinguish flames on your new tank until you've unlocked "parts" and "FPE" - functionalities that are essential, but Gaijin pushes you to pay gold to bypass their grind.
In its current state, I hesitate to recommend War Thunder. This might appear contradictory considering the significant time I've spent playing this game. But the reality is, new players are hit the hardest. Gaijin's primary focus doesn't seem to be on the wellbeing of me, you, or the larger playerbase. My advice is to consider other games that genuinely value your input and respect your time.