World of Tanks rolls out 'Tank Rally' racing mode

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The name World of Tanks most likely conjures up visions of great, plodding machines blasting away at each other in explosive battles of attrition, and sometimes that's an accurate perception. But the new Tank Rally mode takes the game in an unexpected direction, where speed, not guns, is what really counts. (Okay, yes, the guns count too.)

The race itself is a 3v3 battle on a divided track, and it is in fact a battle: Victory can be earned by either taking the capture point at the finish line, or destroying all the tanks on the opposing side. Gaps in the track divider lets tankers shoot at enemies as they race or switch over to drive on the opposite side, and there are even a few ramps, for those who prefer to make a more dramatic entrance.

Successful racers will earn the Racer 2014 medal and can also score bonus experience, a day of premium access and an extra garage slot. Sadly, the Tank Rally is a time-limited event: It's live now and runs until 4 am PDT on October 13. Get all the details at WorldOfTanks.com.

Andy has been gaming on PCs from the very beginning, starting as a youngster with text adventures and primitive action games on a cassette-based TRS80. From there he graduated to the glory days of Sierra Online adventures and Microprose sims, ran a local BBS, learned how to build PCs, and developed a longstanding love of RPGs, immersive sims, and shooters. He began writing videogame news in 2007 for The Escapist and somehow managed to avoid getting fired until 2014, when he joined the storied ranks of PC Gamer. He covers all aspects of the industry, from new game announcements and patch notes to legal disputes, Twitch beefs, esports, and Henry Cavill. Lots of Henry Cavill.