This month saw one of the biggest video game franchises organize one of the biggest Hollywood team-ups, with World of Tanks bringing together iconic action stars Arnold Schwarzenegger and Milla Jovovich together for the very first time. And what better way to do this than for the holiday season for this year's Holiday Ops 2023 event!
Last year Screen Rant was able to World of Tanks for the first Holiday Ops, and for Holiday Ops 2023, the team (and the team-up!) went even bigger. So we thought it'd be fun to chat with Arnold Schwarzenegger yet again as a little North American exclusive, to talk about this year's Holiday Ops happenings, working with Milla Jovovich, about his own real-life tank (which we've rode in before!), and of course, his powerful new in-game tank that he helped design!
Holiday Ops is running now through January 9th, 2023 on PC and on slightly different schedules for the Modern Armor console version and World of Tanks Blitz on mobile. Players can find Arnold and Milla in the garage who can be recruited into tank crews, and they'll assign challenges and quests, and if completed, award Arnie and Milla customization items like tank skins, themed emblems, inscriptions, decals, and commanders. Milla and Arnold’s voiceovers are featured in World of Tanks PC and console.
Our Arnold Schwarzenegger Interview For Holiday Ops 2023
Screen Rant: We spoke last year about working with World of Tanks for a special holiday event, and this year seems bigger! What are the biggest changes to Holiday Ops 2023?
Two big things come immediately to mind. First, the Holiday Ops family has grown this year as Milla Jovovich is coming aboard to bring even more joy. This is the first time I have ever worked with Milla in any project, and it was fantastic. She is a total pro and an icon. Second, this year the Holiday Ops event stretches across the World of Tanks universe. If you are always on the go, there is a mobile version (World of Tanks Blitz), if you are on the couch you can play on your console (World of Tanks Modern Armor) and if you’re a fan of cool graphics - the PC version is always there for you. Each game’s version will have something special, but you can count on all of them being loaded with lots of gifts and rewards from me and Milla.
This holiday event for World of Tanks debuts across all platforms for the first time, reaching every type of player - what do you hope they get from this year's Holiday Ops experience?
With so many choices I really hope players will have a chance to try them all. Each one has something unique and special to its platform. There is much to challenge the players of World of Tanks this season and I know that these rock-solid tankers never back down from a challenge.
Can you tell us about your experience working with Milla Jovovich for the first time?
It was fantastic! She is such a great actress. A real badass.
What's the top Arnold Schwarzenegger customization item that players should try to unlock?
For me, the ultimate Arnold collectible is my exclusive tank camouflage.
Can you tell us your favorite line of dialogue recorded for your in-game character?
A few of my favorites are: “Your future is set”, “I said FREEZE!”, “Drive on!”, “Here's where my bodybuilding talent comes in handy.” I love getting in the sound booth and just having a good time!
What are some of your own holiday traditions and what are you looking forward to personally in 2023?
Every single year on Christmas I make sure to get a lot of gifts for my friends and family. Sometimes I get gifts for over 100 people! The best part of Christmas is always giving back, and I’m so happy to be able to do that. I am also looking forward to spending a lot of time with my kids and two grandkids this year, it is really wild how fast they have grown up.
Years ago, you took us for a ride in your own real tank for The Last Stand, do you still drive it?
Of course! It is parked at Melody Ranch, and I still drive it, sometimes for fun, but mostly to raise money for After-School All-Stars, my nationwide charity that provides after-school programs to almost 100,000 kids in 13 states, so they have somewhere safe to keep learning and growing between 3 and 6pm after they get out of school but before their parents are home. I LOVE driving it for a good cause.
This year's Holiday Ops event introduces the M47 Iron Arnie, a tank you helped design. What can you tell us about it? Is it the best vehicle in the game?!
I really adore how my M47 Iron Arnie tank has turned out in the game. It is based on the M47 Patton, but with a bigger gun, buff armored turret, and metal reinforcements for extra toughness.
If you had a choose a tank for some of your most beloved characters (Dutch from Predator, the T-800, etc.) which ones do you think they'd drive?
Well, I think Dutch would want something more stealthy, the T-800 would have the biggest baddest tank, very futuristic, and I think that John Kimble from Kindergarten Cop would have the safest tank for kids.
Watch The Holiday Ops 2023 Trailer
World of Tanks: Holiday Ops 2023 is currently ongoing and runs through January 9th, 2023 on PC.
Read more at worldoftanks.com.