WARDOGS Vows to 'Never Take Away Player Freedom' as Season 2 Looms

Michael Manning | DualShockers

Michael Manning (He/Him) has been enamored with video games since he first played the Sonic Classic Collection as a child. With decades of experience in gaming and a full tour as a Gaming Journalist, Michael is ready to step up to the plate. From AAA to the smallest passion projects, his motto is that every piece of ar

BULKHEAD, the team behind WARDOGS, understands that better than most, and in a long-form announcement going over their plans for the second season of WARDOGS, they’re refreshingly open. In anticipation of WARDOGS’ first progression wipe and the game’s upcoming 1.0 release, Howard Philpott and other members of the team came out to go over their plans for the game’s future and their commitment to player freedom and enjoyment above all else.

A Warzone By Players, for Players

Coming off of an incredible 3 million copies sold, WARDOGS has proven itself as a genuine competitor amongst massive budget military FPS giants like Call of Duty and Battlefield. BULKHEAD has made their intentions clear, citing the game’s success largely to the incredibly passionate and committed fanbase that has stepped up to give the team a proper chance.

Despite DDoS attempts and various launch hiccups, the combined arms shooter has enjoyed wanton success, rave reviews, and a blossoming online community that has made a point of trying every little thing they can to shatter the game’s preconceived balance. BULKHEAD has encouraged these players, citing WARDOGS as a game that rewards a bit more thinking than other military FPS.

The team acknowledges that WARDOGS won’t be the shooter for everyone, and is using the game’s time as an early access title to shake things up and see what works without losing the moment-to-moment tactics that make WARDOGS so addictive to play. Stacking allies to gun down a chopper with small arms fire, aiming for weak points that high-end armor doesn’t cover, constant experimentation is the name of the game, and WARDOGS’ focus on making money means every engagement feels like a gamble.

BULKHEAD is using the game’s first progression wipe to usher in new player progression mechanics, storing XP gained for later skill systems that are still in active development, while encouraging players to mix things up as the seasons shift. WARDOGS is framed like a constantly shifting ecosystem controlled by player input, and BULKHEAD has made it clear that they wouldn’t have it any other way.

Player Freedom Above All Else

Online games, especially early access ones, are under constant supervision to maintain mechanical ‘balance’. For most games, this is a fool’s errand, leading to a constant cycle where the best things are slowly curbed to make room for another predominant strategy. This can be healthy, forcing players to try new things, but it feels largely arbitrary, subject to the balance team’s will. BULKHEAD has made a point to claim the player base will always be in control.

While some weapons are getting tweaks, BULKHEAD has made a rather bold claim, encouraging players to keep trying new strategies and tactics because they will “…never take away player freedom.” A wild claim, but a very welcome one as players get more and more tired of their favorite strategies getting gutted overnight.

WARDOGS’ focus on making money means every engagement feels like a gamble.

WARDOGS is a remarkably open-ended game, with all three teams constantly forcing each other to adapt in an almost rock-paper-scissors style cycle. As one team shifts to counterplay another, the third is already preparing to match the counterplay. BULKHEAD wants every player to feel like they’re the ones in control of their match, carving out mini stories as they take on rivals and play their way.

Whether you’re ratting in a corner, leading an airborne deployment, or plinking away from a rooftop, BULKHEAD have made it clear that WARDOGS has a place for you, as long as you’re willing to fight for it.

Michael Manning | DualShockers

WARDOGS Systems

Released August 10, 2026

Number of Players Single-player

Steam Deck Compatibility Unknown

WARDOGS Vows to ‘Never Take Away Player Freedom’ as Season 2 Looms