All articles tagged with #wardogs
Bulkhead's tactical shooter Wardogs has sold over 2.2 million copies, generating $70 million in revenue and outperforming Bungie's Marathon across all platforms. The game's launch momentum exceeds that of Arc Raiders and Helldivers 2 at the same price point, though the studio faces significant scaling challenges and recent controversy over its work culture.
Bulkhead CEO Joe Brammer clarified his studio's hiring practices after backlash over comments about screening candidates for anti-crunch views. He stated that while crunch is not mandatory, the studio expects hard work and screens public social media to ensure cultural fit. Brammer emphasized that employees who own shares receive significant financial rewards, and that the studio has experimented with flexible work models, including a four-day week, to balance intense periods of overtime.
Bulkhead CEO Joe Brammer issued a statement to Eurogamer following backlash over his comments that the studio screens candidates' social media for anti-crunch messaging. Brammer clarified that his remarks were informal and that any screening complies with UK law. He detailed a specific instance of optional crunch for the Wardogs beta, noting that four staff members opted out without penalty. The studio defends its culture by highlighting financial bonuses and equity for employees, despite ongoing debates about the ethics of linking career success to overtime tolerance.
Bulkhead CEO Joe Brammer confirmed the studio reviews candidates' social media for anti-crunch sentiment, stating such individuals 'often don't make it in the door.' He argues that while crunch is sometimes unavoidable, it is compensated through shares and bonuses, though critics note this excludes dissenting voices.
Bulkhead CEO Joe Brammer stated that the studio reviews candidates' social media accounts and rejects those who publicly criticize crunch culture. Brammer acknowledged that while the studio tries to avoid crunch, it is inevitable, and argued that employees who oppose such practices would not be happy at the company. The studio, which recently released the hit game Wardogs, offers financial bonuses to shareholding employees but has also conducted annual layoffs for six years.
Wardogs, a military shooter by Bulkhead, launched in early access on September 10, 2026, and sold over 1 million copies within 24 hours. The game peaked at 428,000 concurrent players on Steam, though launch servers crashed due to high demand. Bulkhead has since deployed patches to improve server stability and community server features, while outlining a flexible seasonal roadmap that includes new weapons, vehicles, and accessibility updates.
Bulkhead's tactical shooter Wardogs has sold over one million copies and reached 350,000 concurrent players within hours of its September 10, 2026, Steam early access launch. The massive demand caused severe server congestion, forcing many players into long queues or disconnecting them mid-match. In response, the studio issued a hotfix to manage player entry in controlled batches. CEO Joe Brammer acknowledged the overwhelming interest but emphasized that the game remains in early access, requiring ongoing fixes and improvements. While the launch was technically turbulent, the commercial success validates the studio's strategy of transparent pre-launch marketing, including a controversial '10 reasons not to buy' campaign. Console versions for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S are confirmed for 2028, with the current PC release priced at £36.99.
Valheim has exited early access with a 1.0 update adding new biomes and console support, while tactical shooter Wardogs has sold over one million copies in its first week. Meanwhile, PAX West showcased several upcoming indie titles, including a Tetris-meets-Doom hybrid and a physics-based survival game set in 14th-century England.
PAX West 2026 highlighted innovative indie titles like Wolfhound and God Save Birmingham, while Valheim 1.0 and Wardogs achieved massive commercial success across multiple platforms.
Wardogs, a new 100-player military shooter by Bulkhead, launched into early access on Steam with massive success, reaching 300,000 peak concurrent users and becoming the platform's top seller. However, the surge caused severe server instability, including long queues, rate-limiting issues, and incorrect player bans. A hotfix has been released to address these problems, though queues persist.
The second week of September 2026 features a dense slate of new game releases across PC, Xbox, and PlayStation, with five titles launching on September 10. Key highlights include the early-access tactical shooter Wardogs, the asymmetrical horror game Halloween: The Game, and EA Sports NHL 27. Other notable launches include Mewgenics, SPRAWL zero, and the Trails from Zero/Trails to Azure double feature for Nintendo Switch 2 and PS5.
The indie gaming sector is experiencing a significant resurgence, with Meccha Chameleon selling over 20 million copies in two months, potentially becoming the second-best-selling game of 2026. This success contrasts with recent industry layoffs and studio closures. New releases include Agent 64: Spies Never Die, a GoldenEye 007-inspired shooter, and Duskfade, a 3D platformer drawing from Kingdom Hearts. Upcoming titles like Wardogs and Tiny Flock also show strong interest, while Machine Party and Big Walk have achieved rapid sales milestones.
Bulkhead Interactive has confirmed that its 100-player shooter, Wardogs, will launch on Steam Early Access on September 10, 2026. The title, published by Team17, is priced at $40 for early access and will rise to $60 at full release. The game features large-scale combined-arms combat with logistical depth, drawing comparisons to Battlefield and Hell Let Loose. Bulkhead has offered a refund guarantee for players dissatisfied with the upcoming closed beta, which runs from August 21 to 23. The studio plans to remain in early access for approximately 24 months, focusing on performance and balance. Wardogs currently holds over 800,000 wishlists on Steam, reflecting significant anticipation despite the developer's transparent marketing approach, which includes a video listing reasons not to buy the game.