Today Gaijin Entertainment revealed a patch applied to the pre-release build of its upcoming combat flight simulator Aces of Thunder.
Thee patch, numbered v0.0.4.57, brings significant improvements to graphics, interface, controls, and more.
This is a good chance to get a feel of what we can expect from the simulator on top of what we have seen so far.
You can read the full patch notes below.
Graphics
- Terrain rendering has been improved.
- In-battle performance has been improved.
- Default shadow quality has been increased.
- An error that caused VSync settings to be incorrect after hotswapping HMD and going from VR to flat screen has been fixed (only applicable to certain headsets using OpenXR standard).
Interface
- Added graphics settings tab.
- Multiple bugs have been fixed, some windows have been redesigned.
- Multi-functional menu has been redesigned and expanded.
- Multiple localization fixes.
Controls
- Several bugs with key bindings have been fixed.
- Ability to bind mouse axes by moving the mouse has been added (will implicitly enable Mouse-Joystick controls mode if bound to roll and pitch).
- Analog stick dead zones for the Gamepad control scheme have been changed.
- Analog stick precision on Xbox controllers has been increased.
- Performance of input handling routines when running in VR has been improved.
Missions
- Multiple fixes for bugs in various missions.
Known issues that unfortunately are still being worked on:
- Performance issues (stutters) on some systems when running in VR.
- Key bindings are saved incorrectly when an Xbox controller is connected in between two subsequent binding changes.
- GUI navigation with DualSense/DualShock controllers does not work.
- In-game VR mode toggle does not work in some situations.
Aces of Thunder is coming on February 3, 2026 for PC and PS5, with support for PC VR and PlayStation VR 2.
Initially, it was supposed to require VR, but then Gaijin decided to cater to a broader audience and removed the requirement for a VR headset, so you’ll be able to enjoy Aces of Thunder on a traditional flat screen as well.
If you want to learn more about the game, you can check out the recent gameplay trailer and the reveal that it’ll include World War I fighter planes on top of World War II warbirds.
If you’re unfamiliar with Gaijin Entertainment, it’s certainly not new to flight games, being the creator of the popular War Thunder. You may also know them for Enlisted and more.
Aces of Thunder is said to be closer to a full-fledged flight simulatoer compared to War Thunder, and it includes 20+ WWII warbirds like the American P-51 Mustang and P-63 Kingcobra, the German Bf 109 and Fw 190, the Soviet Il-2, La-5FN, and Yak-9T, the British Spitfire, and the Japanese A6M3 Zero.
As for World War I planes, you’ll be able to fly the SPAD S.XIII, the Sopwith F.1 Camel, the Fokker D.VII, and the Fokker Dr.I made famous by the Red Baron, Manfred von Richthofen.