Bulkhead is developing Wardogs, a multiplayer first-person shooter described as "tactical all-out warfare." The studio aims for a game that bridges the gap between mainstream titles like Battlefield and Call of Duty and more hardcore simulations such as Escape From Tarkov and Hell Let Loose. Key features include 100-player matches, destructible environments, a cash-based metagame, and a base-building system. The game also incorporates a unique leveling system where skills improve through in-game actions, akin to RuneScape.
Central to Wardogs' design philosophy is the concept of "selfish teamwork." According to Bulkhead co-founder and CEO Joe Brammer, this mechanic encourages players to contribute to their team's success through actions that also benefit their individual progression, such as earning in-game currency. "You can't not help your team," Brammer stated, explaining that even players focused on personal gain, like accumulating cash through kills, are indirectly supporting the objective by reducing the opposing team's player count.
Brammer shared an anecdote from internal playtests where individuals new to gaming, primarily women in their twenties from the operations team, became immersed in the game. Despite initial fear of the virtual combat, their presence in control zones, even when passively defending, proved crucial to team victories. This highlights how different player motivations can still contribute to overall team success.
The development of Wardogs stems from the team's desire to create a game they personally want to play. Unlike their previous title, Battalion 1944, which was a fast-paced arena shooter, the Wardogs team, now in their thirties and experiencing the demands of parenthood, are gravitating towards a different style of gameplay. "I haven't got time to be as good as the younger crowd now," Brammer remarked, noting that he and his colleagues are becoming "dad gamers" who prefer games they can engage with in their limited free time. This personal connection to the game's design, he believes, leads to a better overall product.
Wardogs is currently in a closed pre-alpha stage, with an early access release planned for later this year.