Is Wardogs’ endgame broken? Bulkhead CEO Joe Brammer does not mince words when asked. “I would say the late game isn’t broken, it’s sh*t,” he told followers on X, responding to a video from YouTuber JbowenDaMan that highlighted growing frustration with the 100-player FPS’s progression and balance problems.
The candour is notable. Wardogs launched into Steam Early Access on 10th September to strong player numbers — over 500,000 in the first beta — but three weeks in, the cracks are showing. Dedicated players have unlocked the highest tiers of vehicles, level four armor and endgame weapons, creating a significant power gap between newcomers and veterans.
Why Season 1 Is Deliberately Short
Brammer’s response reveals that the studio anticipated these problems. Season 1 is roughly one month long — deliberately brief — because Bulkhead knew the endgame balance was not right from launch.
“Season 1 is short deliberately because we knew these endgame balancing issues existed. Imagine if we had a three-month-long season with our game three weeks in — do you want to keep playing this for another nine weeks? Nobody wants that.”
The logic is straightforward. A short season means the reset comes quickly, and Season 2 can address the issues with the benefit of real player data. Brammer was clear that the problems were expected in principle, if not in specific detail: “We did know we hadn’t got it right, because you’re never going to get it right without more people playing.”
Mortar Spam, Level Four Armor and the Balance Philosophy
Specific issues Brammer acknowledged include a mortar spam meta — players are getting far more mortar ammunition than intended, making it overrepresented in matches. He confirmed the studio will look at nerfing mortar ammo costing.
Level four armor, the highest tier of protection, is another pain point. Players equipped with it are nearly impervious to small arms fire, creating a discouraging experience for anyone still using lower-tier equipment. “That doesn’t mean I think level four armor is working, or that our balancing is great,” Brammer admitted.
Key balance admissions: Mortar spam meta acknowledged · Level four armor “not working” · Blue team wins significantly less than green/red · Community servers and infantry-only servers missing at launch
Bulkhead’s broader philosophy on balance is unconventional for a competitive shooter. Brammer described Wardogs as a sandbox first, not a competitive FPS requiring perfect symmetry. “Sometimes in our game, we’re going to be OK with something being a bit overpowered for a season and then underpowered next season, to keep it interesting,” he explained. The goal is variety and asymmetry, not tournament-grade equilibrium.
Tarkov-Style Persistent Skills Coming
Beyond balance fixes, Brammer teased a significant new progression system inspired by Escape from Tarkov. Future updates will add skills that improve through repetition — tactical sprint duration, for example, or the ability to stay scoped in while cycling a sniper rifle bolt. These skills will be persistent across seasons, unlike cash and XP which reset.
A new “intel” resource is also planned, used for unlocking gun parts and attachments beyond the current selection of grips, scopes and muzzles. Brammer estimated that players are currently experiencing only “25% of the game,” suggesting substantial content is still to come.
Server Problems and What Comes Next
Brammer identified the lack of community server support as a key mistake. The studio should have launched with official infantry-only servers and level-restricted modes, giving players options beyond the full-progression experience. He confirmed these are being worked on but will not be ready for Season 2.
Season 2 is expected in early October, roughly a month after launch. Cash and XP will reset, with banked cash automatically converted to Gold Bars. Cosmetics and Gold Bars carry over permanently. Vehicle balance changes and further endgame adjustments are promised, though Brammer cautioned that full balance will take multiple seasons to achieve.
For a game that attracted half a million players in its beta, Wardogs is clearly still finding its footing. But Brammer’s willingness to admit the problems openly — and the short-season reset strategy designed to address them — suggests Bulkhead has a plan, even if execution will take time.
