The first major Early Access update arrives, adding new weapons, vehicles, dynamic weather, and significant adjustments to core gameplay
BULKHEAD and publisher Team17 announce that Season 2 of their 100-player tactical FPS, WARDOGS, is now live. This marks the first major update since the game launched into Early Access on Steam last month to impressive results.
As BULKHEAD continues to develop the game alongside its growing player community, this update brings new firepower, more tactical choices, and significant adjustments to core gameplay systems.
Watch the WARDOGS Season 2 launch trailer:
Heavy Rain and Thunder Join the Battlefield, Adding New Variables to Tactical Gameplay
Season 2 brings fresh changes to the battlefields of WARDOGS. Heavy rain and thunderstorms are introduced for the first time, making visibility and audio cues more critical than ever. Players will need to adapt their engagement strategies accordingly. Thunder can temporarily mask footsteps, creating opportunities for coordinated assaults and flanking maneuvers, while also making unexpected encounters even more unpredictable.
This update also adds 4 new weapons, 4 vehicles, and 3 buildable structures, further expanding players' tactical options. These include the T-72B3 main battle tank, the Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft gun, and new defensive fortifications.
Risk-takers can try out the experimental "Wager Vendor" feature: use in-game cash to bet on your battlefield performance for higher returns, making risk and reward an integral part of tactical decision-making.
Responding to Player Feedback: From Combat Balance to Faction Dynamics
The focus of Season 2 isn't just on adding content. Over the past month, BULKHEAD has closely observed the actual gameplay of millions of players and made significant adjustments to combat balance, progression, team coordination, and faction dynamics based on this data.
One special initiative involves offering exclusive in-game cash and XP rewards to encourage players to join the currently underperforming blue faction, Lonestar. This is part of BULKHEAD's ongoing efforts to balance the three-faction chaos mechanic and adapt to the community's evolving tactics.
Joe Brammer, CEO of BULKHEAD, stated:
"Players have developed many ways to play WARDOGS that we never anticipated, and they haven't hesitated to speak up about what needs improvement. This is exactly the kind of feedback we hoped to gain through Early Access.
"Season 2 is about putting into practice what we've learned over the past month. In addition to plenty of new content, adjustments to underlying systems are equally important. We are building this game together with our players, and this is just the beginning."
$100,000 Cash Prize Winner Announced
As Season 2 launches, the WARDOGS community celebrates another major milestone. Last night, BULKHEAD announced the winners of the #WARDOGS100K video contest, with one player winning a $100,000 cash prize for their gameplay footage.
The winning video stood out from thousands of community submissions, while the other 99 finalists each received $100,000 worth of in-game currency for WARDOGS.
Since launching into Early Access on September 10, WARDOGS has sold over 3 million copies, with a peak concurrent player count on Steam exceeding 425,000.
Season 2 opens a new chapter for the Derby-based studio. During Early Access, the team will continue to roll out more content, optimizations, and updates.
WARDOGS Season 2 is now live on Steam!
About BULKHEAD
BULKHEAD is a game development studio based in Derby, UK, dedicated to making its mark in the FPS genre. Founded in 2015 by a small group of friends, the studio started by creating acclaimed indie titles such as The Turing Test and Battalion 1944. It has since grown its team and focused on developing more ambitious multiplayer experiences, including WARDOGS.
Recently, a new consortium consisting of SMG, everplay, and Hiro Capital acquired BULKHEAD from Tencent. The studio's latest title, WARDOGS, is published by Team17.
About Team17
Founded in 1990, Team17 is a leading game developer, publisher, and creative partner for developers worldwide. As part of the everplay Group plc, Team17 boasts a portfolio of over 140 games, fully embodying the spirit of independent gaming.
Team17 owns numerous award-winning and nominated game brands, including Hell Let Loose, Golf With Your Friends, The Escapists, and the iconic Worms series. Its published titles include Date Everythinggj, DREDGE, and the Overcooked! series.
