Interview: ‘World of Tanks: HEAT’ Product Director Artoym Yantsevitch

June 19, 2026 - 01:28

Zak Wojnar of Newsweek recently sat down for an email exchange with Artoym Yantsevitch, the Product Director for World of Tanks: HEAT. The conversation focused on the upcoming spin-off title and what sets it apart from the long-running main game. Yantsevitch explained that HEAT is not simply a mobile port or a stripped-down version. Instead, it is a completely rebuilt experience designed from the ground up for touchscreen devices. The goal was to preserve the core tank combat that fans love while making it accessible for shorter, more dynamic sessions.

Yantsevitch highlighted the shift in pacing. While the original World of Tanks emphasizes careful positioning and methodical play, HEAT pushes for faster engagements. Matches are designed to be completed in roughly seven minutes, with smaller maps and fewer players per team. The controls have also been reworked. The team focused on a dual-stick setup that allows for intuitive driving and aiming without the need for complex keyboard shortcuts. He noted that this was a major challenge, as translating the precision of a mouse and keyboard to a touch interface required many iterations.

When asked about the competitive scene, Yantsevitch confirmed that ranked play and clan battles are planned for the launch window. He stressed that the team is listening closely to player feedback from the ongoing beta tests. The hope is that HEAT will attract both veteran tank commanders looking for a quick fix on the go and new players who found the original game too intimidating. The full release date has not been announced, but the team is working toward a global launch later this year.