Joe Brammer, CEO of Bulkhead Interactive, developer of Wardogs, recently spoke publicly about the studio's crunch policy. He stated that while crunch does occur at the studio, job applicants who firmly oppose this practice may not be hired. These remarks were subsequently criticized by numerous game industry professionals.
Brammer stated that while Bulkhead strives to avoid crunch, it does not hide from applicants that such situations may inevitably arise. He hopes the studio will be known for its hard work, believing that employees who value their work and its final outcome will feel appreciated there; those who do not align with this culture may feel overly driven.
During the hiring process, Bulkhead also reviews applicants' social media accounts. Brammer stated that if a candidate consistently posts content such as "crunch should never happen," the company would determine they are unsuited to the work environment and would not proceed with their application.
Brammer acknowledged that this policy is controversial within the game development industry. He also revealed that over the past three months, Wardogs had taken precedence over the family lives of many employees. However, in response to demands for an early console release, the company has refused to continue pressuring the team, recognizing the need to rebalance work and life.
Regarding compensation for overtime, Brammer stated that since the company explicitly requires crunch, employees should be rewarded for it. Bulkhead offers bonuses and other incentives to some employees, but not all staff receive this compensation.
Numerous game industry professionals later criticized this stance on Bluesky. Developer bplane stated that extensive research has shown crunch is ineffective and harms profits. Producer and consultant Nazih Fares argued that this reflects a need for producer involvement in management. Michael Howe, a member of Studio Gobo, attributed crunch to poor planning and management, criticizing Bulkhead for framing this practice as hard work.
On the day Wardogs was released, Brammer posted an internal studio video on X. The footage showed a room filled with inflatable mattresses, where employees stayed overnight to address server issues for Wardogs.