Derby-based developer Bulkhead saw a stunning milestone as their tactical shooter, Wardogs, surpassed one million copies sold just hours after debuting in early access on Steam. During the initial launch period, the title also broke the 350,000 concurrent players mark, ranking it among the most impactful early access launches on the platform in recent memory.
Server Overload Reflects Massive Interest
With servers quickly reaching capacity, scores of players faced delays and login issues due to the flood of new users. This surge not only underscores the immense popularity of the game but also brings the typical technical hurdles that come with major multiplayer releases.
Joe Brammer, Bulkhead’s CEO, voiced his surprise at the community reception: “To cross a million copies sold as we launch into early access is mental.” He also pointed to their deliberate and transparent marketing campaign, noting, “We’ve spent the last few months showing people exactly what Wardogs is, what it isn’t, and at one point literally gave everyone ten reasons not to buy it. We didn’t want people buying into blind hype.”
Game’s Early Access Journey and Vision
Brammer further commented, “So seeing more than one million people choose to jump in and play the game at early access launch means a huge amount to all of us. But this is still early access. We’ve got things to fix, things we want to improve, and a lot more we want to build. The best thing players can do now is keep playing, keep telling us what they think and keep giving us those ridiculous Wardogs moments.”
The experience on offer in Wardogs includes large-scale matches with up to 100 players, bringing together tactical shooting elements, vehicular combat, base-building, and destructible environments, all of which have contributed to its meteoric rise.
Current and Upcoming Releases
At present, Wardogs is only obtainable for PC on Steam, retailing for £36.99. The studio announced plans to bring the title to PlayStation 5 and Xbox in the future, aiming for a release window sometime in 2028, though an exact launch date has yet to be provided.
Bulkhead projects that the initial rush of players will eventually level out, and prefers to introduce new content at a measured rate rather than attempting to sustain the original peak numbers. This approach underscores the studio’s intention to develop the game gradually, informed by player feedback as the community matures.
More details about Wardogs’ launch, its unique marketing style, and the now well-known “10 Reasons NOT to Buy” promo can be found here.