page_title: World of Warplanes
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: World of Warplanes / History
caption_attribution_description: World of Warplanes @ E3 2012
context_page_description: World of Warplanes is a free-to-play aerial combat massively multiplayer online game developed by Persha Studia and published by Wargaming.net. The game was originally released in November 2013 in CIS countries, North America and Europe. It was relaunched as World of Warplanes 2.0 in October 2017 in the same countries, achieving significantly better reception.
context_section_description: Wargaming's plan to develop a flight combat MMO action game was first conceived during the early stages of World of Tanks development. World of Warplanes was announced at E3 in 2011, less than two months after the World of Tanks release in Europe and North America. Development was assigned to Persha Studia, the development center of Wargaming based in Kiev, Ukraine. The game went from concept to a playable prototype in only two months. Early alpha testing began August 2011.
  Wargaming showcased the first public World of Warplanes trailer at gamescom in August 2011. Wargaming first showed a closed demonstration of the alpha version to journalists at the IgroMir in October 2011. American aircraft were the first planes to be added to the World of Warplanes tech tree.
  World of Warplanes alpha test started recruiting test players on February 23, 2012. World of Warplanes closed beta test began May 30, 2012. The game received over two million applications within the first three months of testing. World of Warplanes was selected as Europe’s "Most Wanted Online Game" at the European Games Awards in 2012.
  On April 4, 2013, the non-disclosure agreement was lifted for the beta test players, allowing beta testers to share their thoughts, screenshots, and in-game videos. At that time, the game offered six battle arenas and over 80 aircraft models from USSR, the USA, Germany, and Japan. World of Warplanes’ open beta testing started on July 2, 2013.
  On October 10, 2017, a video titled "World of Warplanes 2.0. New Game Mode" was released on World of Warplanes official YouTube channel, signalling the release of World of Warplanes 2.0. It features an updated and revamped version of the game, including a reworked gameplay system and an upgrade to the game's graphics.
  With the World of Warplanes 2.0 release came a new publishing and marketing team. In 2018, they began working with British metal band Iron Maiden and their lead singer Bruce Dickinson. WoWp obtained a music license from Sanctuary Records for the iconic track "Aces High". WoWp remade the Aces High music video using the game's graphics engine and shared and promoted it on WoWp websites, Facebook groups and YouTube channels. WoWp also made an exclusive Iron Maiden Spitfire plane which was available for free in game through Jun-Aug 2018 to synch with the band's Legacy of the Beast European tour. There was an Iron Maiden themed hangar and special events during the same time period. As well as being the singer for Iron Maiden, Bruce Dickinson is a pilot and military aviation history buff who regularly captains Iron Maiden's converted charter aeroplane, Ed Force One, during their world tours, and still runs an aircraft maintenance and pilot training company. Bruce agreed to be an ambassador for WoWp and made himself available to film a series of WoWp video diaries at Hendon RAF Museum.
caption: Promotion at E3 2012
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