With most MMOs, you're lucky to learn about an upcoming patch a couple of months before it launches. Rather than take the common route, Wargaming.net has decided to use some heavy artillery and blast its own path by releasing its World of Tanks plans for the next year.

While all dates are subject to change, Wargaming.net definitely has a lot planned for World of Tanks. Maps featuring regions like Africa, South America and Japan are in development, and the list of upcoming tanks is quit long. New game modes like an historical battle are in the works, and you can expect to see new features like mini-map customization and realistic vehicle physics.

You can view the tentative World of Tanks roadmap after the jump. Did we mention that all dates are subject to change?

World of Tanks Release Plan for 2011-2012

Maps

1. Each update will introduce 1-2 new maps.

2. Maps featuring North American Landscapes are planned for release in Q4 2011, after that the following regions are going to be covered:

• Africa
• South America
• Australia
• China, Korea
• Japan

Maps featuring all regions above are currently in development. The details on maps will be announced upon the release of each particular update.

Tanks

American tanks

• medium tank M4A3E2, light tank M24 - Q3 2011;

• tank destroyers M8A1, T49, M18 Hellcat, T28 prototype - Q1 2012;

• heavy tanks M103, T110, tank destroyer T25-2 - Q1 2012.

Soviet tanks

• light tanks T-50, T-50-2 - Q3 2011;

• tank destroyer SU-85 (I) - Q4 2011;

• tank destroyers SU-100M-1, SU-101 (Uralmash-1), SU-122-54 - Q4 2011;

• heavy tanks  KV-1, KV-2, KV-4, Т-150, ST 1, Object 252 - Q1 2012.

German tanks

• medium tank Pz IV Hydro - Q4 2011;

• tank destroyers Marder III, Dickermax, Nashorn, Sturer Emil, Jagdpanzer E-100 - Q4 2011;

• SPGs E10, E25, tank destroyer JagdTiger Sd Kfz 185 (88/71) - Q2 2012.

French tanks

• light, medium, and heavy tanks Renault FT, D1, D2, B1, ARL 44, AMX-50 100mm, AMX-50 120mm, Hotchkiss H35, AMX 38, AMX 40, AMX-13/75, AMX-13/90, Chatillon 25t, BDR G1B, AMX M4 1945, AMX-50-68t , AMX-12t , Lorraine 40t - Q4 2011;

• SPGs RenaultBS, Lorraine39 L-AM, AMX-105AM, AMX 13F3AM, Lorraine155-50, Lorraine155-51, Bаt Chatillon155 - Q1 2012;

• tank destroyers FCM 36Pak40, 105 leFH18B2, Panzerjager35R - Q1 2012;

• tank destroyers Renault FT AC, Lorraine 37L-AC, Somua Sau40, S 35CA, ARL V39, AMX AC de120-46, AMX AC de120-48, AMX50 Foch - Q1 2012;

• medium tank Renault G1R, light tank АМХ 13FL11 - Q1 2012.

British tanks - Q2 2012

Japanese tanks  - 2012

New Game Modes

• Company battle divisions: tier 10 max with no overall tier limitation, tiers 8, 6, and 4 max with the respective overall tier limitation - Q4 2011;

• Assault (one team attacks, the other one defends the base) and Encounter battle (two teams are to capture the base in the center of the map) - Q4 2011;

• Garage battle – players can use several tanks (one after another) in one battle (“limited respawn”)  - Q1 2012;

• Escort (only a few tanks from the team have the ability to capture enemy's base, the opposite team is to stop potential invaders) - Q1 2012;

• Historical battle - faction based battles with historically justified restrictions on vehicles and modules available - 2012.

Ultimate Conquest (Clan Wars)

• Fog of war in clan battles - Q4 2011;

• Cooldown period for destroyed vehicles - Q4 2011;

• Expansion of the global map. The following regions are going to be added in the prescribed order: North America, Africa, South America, Australia, Korea, China, Japan - 2012;

• Clan treasure transactions - 2012;

• Clan armoury, clan consumables and tanks - 2012.

Performance and Game Client

• Packed resources decreasing map loading time - Q4 2011;

• Pre-caching – optimized vehicle model loading for Low-end PCs - Q4 2011;

• New firing effects, explosions, and other visual effects will be added gradually - Starting Q4 2011.

New Features (Misc)

• Vehicle customization: camouflage and horn sounds - Q4 2011;

• Mini-map customization and new functionality - Q4 2011;

• Interface game tutorial - Q4 2011;

• Quick in-game violation report system - Q4 2011;

• New crew skills and perks - Starting Q4 2011;

• New aсhievements - Q1 2012;

• Expanded post-battle statistics, also accessible in garage menu - Q1 2012;

• Realistic vehicle physics - Q1 2012;

• Extended platoons for up to 5 players - Q1 2012;

• Improved match-making system - Q1 2012;

• National crew voices (crews of each nation speak their mother tongue) - 2012;

• Battle game tutorial - 2012;

• Commander’s chart - 2012;

• Improved chat functionality, official language-based chat subchannels - 2012.

Notice! Release plans stated above are subject to change.