This is part of a wider 2014 plan to give World of Tanks a tune up now that we've got fancier hardware in our PCs. So when we blow off turrets, they'll be looking mighty fine.
Original tank models had around 8,000 polygons, with later models 'twice that', but now this visual overhaul will mean standard detailed vehicles will have 50,000.
"It will be a truly transformative year for the game,” said World of Tanks Producer Mike Zhivets late last month. “Enhancements planned for 2014 touch upon the very core of World of Tanks, and each of them will overhaul the look and feel of the title, inducing the tank combat experience we deliver with a whole new level of realism and immersion.”
This new dev diary is almost 8 minutes long and reveals their new methods of constructing the world, such as normal mapping and even 3D scanning actual tanks. They believe their vehicles are likely 'more accurate' than those in museums. The diary also shows off the new special effects like smoke and fire.