Wardogs Enjoys Explosive Early Access Launch on Steam
Wardogs, a new tactical shooter developed by Derby-based Bulkhead, has made an impressive debut on Steam Early Access, selling over one million copies in a matter of hours and witnessing a peak of over 350,000 concurrent players. The sudden popularity led to server congestion, leaving many players waiting to join matches.
Bulkhead CEO Joe Brammer expressed astonishment at the game’s rapid success, emphasising how the team had transparently communicated what the game entailed—and what it didn’t—prior to launch. “To cross a million copies sold as we launch into early access is mental,” Brammer remarked, adding that the team once provided ten reasons for players not to purchase the game to avoid blind hype.
With Wardogs, players experience intense three-way battles where up to 100 players vie for control points, combining tactical shooting with vehicle combat, base construction, and destroyable environments. The game is currently available on PC through Steam for £36.99, and Bulkhead has plans to release versions for PS5 and Xbox in 2028, though the exact release dates remain undisclosed.
Brammer also highlighted that the early access phase is just the beginning for Wardogs, expressing a commitment to fixing, improving, and further developing the game. He encouraged players to continue playing and providing feedback to enhance the game experience.
As for maintaining interest, Bulkhead acknowledged that initial enthusiasm is likely to wane over time. The studio aims to manage this by rolling out content updates gradually, rather than attempting to sustain the levels of activity seen at launch indefinitely.
Reporting based on coverage first published by eurogamer.net.