This change shifts the meta for the limited-time event significantly. Getting a nuke is no longer just about a decent run; it requires more consistent performance or better objective play. To compensate for the higher individual costs, the total team point requirement to end a match has been slightly lowered from 16,000 to 15,000, though the points needed to reach specific escalation stages have actually increased. It is a balancing act designed to make the final nuclear strike feel earned rather than inevitable.
The economy within the mode is also seeing a shuffle. Rewards for splashing air targets have been reduced, while ground-pounding is now more lucrative. This should encourage players to focus on the mission objectives rather than just farming interceptors to reach their spawn point goals. Matchmaking has also been tweaked to help lower those frustrating queue times for players looking to jump into the nuclear fray.
Outside of the event balancing, this patch clears up some nagging technical issues. Pilots of the Wasp HAS.Mk.1 will find their gear struts actually behaving now, and the Tu-95M has had its thermal signature corrected—no more glowing like a sun on enemy IR sensors when it shouldn't be. Crucially, DX12 users who experienced frame drops when switching views in aircraft with RWR displays should see much smoother performance. If you were seeing "Unknown" threats on your RWR in the F-15E or F-111C, that bug has been squashed too, ensuring your situational awareness stays sharp.
Soren