Bulkhead CEO Joe Brammer has publicly addressed player concerns regarding the endgame experience in the early access title Wardogs. In a discussion video reacting to content from YouTuber JbowenDaMan, Brammer admitted that the current late-game progression is unsatisfactory, stating, "I would say the late game isn't broken, it's sh*t." He also acknowledged a prevalent "mortar spam meta" and indicated that adjustments to mortar ammo costing would be considered.
Brammer explained that the deliberately short Season 1 was a proactive measure to mitigate player frustration with existing endgame balancing issues. "Season 1 is short deliberately because we knew these endgame balancing issues existed," he stated. "So 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? No, nobody wants that."
He emphasized that the studio anticipated these challenges, noting that perfect balance is difficult to achieve without a large player base providing real-world feedback. "We did know we hadn't got it right, because you're never going to get it right without more people playing," Brammer said.
The game's design philosophy prioritizes a sandbox experience where matches are unique, rather than a strictly competitive shooter requiring perfect equilibrium. Brammer suggested that occasional over- or under-powered elements within a season could be acceptable to maintain player interest. However, he conceded that this approach does not excuse current problems like the effectiveness of level four armor.
Future updates are planned to introduce persistent metagame features, including a Tarkov-style skill system that improves through repetition. These skills, such as increased tactical sprint duration or improved scope handling, will not be reset between seasons. Additionally, a new resource called "intel" will be introduced alongside cash and XP. Intel will be used to unlock gun parts and attachments beyond the currently available customization options. Brammer suggested that players have experienced only a fraction of the game's potential, stating, "You're playing 25% of the game."
While the prospect of deeper customization systems, like those found in other games, might raise concerns about potentially optimizing guns to a point of being less interesting, the developer's approach to progression and balance in Wardogs aims to keep the experience dynamic and engaging. The studio is focused on evolving the game based on player interaction and is using the initial early access period to identify and address these critical balance points.