The developers behind the team-based shooter Wardogs have acknowledged persistent player feedback and data indicating that the Lonestar, or blue team, faction experiences a lower win rate than other teams. In response, significant changes are planned for the upcoming Season 2 update to address this imbalance and the associated player perception.
Initially, the Lonestar team's win rate was as low as 10% during the game's alpha period. While this figure has since risen to approximately 20%, developers noted that this perception of being the underdog may even encourage some players to join Lonestar, creating a self-perpetuating cycle. "It's undeniable, they are losing more than the other two teams because of that perception," stated Howard Philpott, co-founder of Bulkhead.
Season 2, launching next week, will introduce a comprehensive overhaul of the game's maps, particularly focusing on the Bakurani map. Senior producer Kane Allard explained that all three team spawn zones on Bakurani are being relocated, not just Lonestar's. This strategic repositioning aims to revitalize the map and, based on internal testing data, has already shown signs of evening out gameplay.
Beyond map adjustments, Bulkhead is introducing several unique incentives to encourage players to choose and succeed with Lonestar. These include altering the saturation of Lonestar's uniforms to improve their ability to blend into the environment, implementing cash and XP bonuses for playing and winning as the blue team, and even placing in-game posters within other teams' spawn areas with messages like 'Lonestar needs you.'
"We are doing some fun stuff," said Philpott. "We're even putting posters like 'Lonestar needs you,' in the other teams' spawns. So yeah, it should be good fun."
Bulkhead CEO Joe Brammer humorously remarked during a press conference, "if you're not playing blue team, you are in fact, a pu**y." The developer hopes these combined efforts will encourage players to embrace Lonestar and help shift the faction's reputation.
Wardogs Season 2 is scheduled to launch on October 15.