Gaijin Entertainment has firmly rejected accusations from hackers that it stole user data via its anti-cheat software and used classified or export-restricted documents in War Thunder development. The claims emerged amid broader community frustration over bugs, communication, and monetization. The developer insists all practices comply with laws and privacy regulations.
Hackers in the War Thunder community have accused Gaijin Entertainment of serious misconduct. In a Discord post shared on Reddit, a leaker alleged that the studio uses export-restricted and classified documents internally to update vehicle models for accuracy. The poster claimed to have screenshots of developers discussing two specific export-restricted documents and hinted at more severe instances, sharing the information in retaliation for alleged company corruption and anti-cheat issues. These claims surfaced around April 30, following earlier complaints about the Viking AC anti-cheat program collecting screenshots and personal files from players' systems. Gaijin quietly disabled some features after backlash, according to the leaker. Community manager Stona_WT responded last month, stating that data processing is limited to what is necessary for fair gameplay and aligns with GDPR and legal requirements. “We take user privacy seriously and strive to ensure that our data handling practices align with established data protection principles,” Stona said. Gaijin reiterated to Kotaku that its third-party anti-cheat accesses system information solely to prevent cheating, without arbitrary surveillance or unauthorized file access. “We cannot and will not use any classified or restricted materials,” the company stated regarding the document allegations, calling the screenshots a misunderstanding of developers lamenting the inability to use such files. On broader issues, Gaijin noted War Thunder's scale as a live-service game with five major yearly updates, explaining delays in addressing conflicting player feedback on vehicles and modes. The studio highlighted recent improvements in direct developer communication via posts like Development-Community Update No.10. Community reactions are mixed, with calls for Steam review bombs amid ongoing unrest over bugs and perceived biases. Recent reviews sit at 'Mixed' (66% positive), down from 'Mostly Positive' overall.
