A 100-player tactical warfare simulator called Wardogs has reached an impressive concurrent player count ahead of its early-access launch. Some players already see Wardogs as a new competitor to Call of Duty and Battlefield, particularly with its release coming so close to Modern Warfare 4's launch.
Wardogs is published by Team17, the publisher behind successful indie FPS games like Hell Let Loose, while Bulkhead is handling development. The studio previously released Battalion 1944, a multiplayer shooter that failed to find much success and faced development hurdles that ultimately led to the cancellation of its console edition. But with Wardogs already showing promising signs, the new title could give Bulkhead a chance to rebuild its image.
On August 21, Wardogs launched a Steam playtest that peaked at over 105,000 concurrent players in less than 48 hours. The figure is impressive because developer Bulkhead prioritized players who pre-ordered the game for the test, suggesting thousands have already purchased it ahead of its early-access launch. Wardogs has also captured the attention of tactical FPS fans on Steam, with the game wishlisted over 1,000,000 times on the platform.
Gameplay-wise, Wardogs can be compared to the King of the Hill mod in Arma 3. It features massive open maps with 100 players divided into three squads, with each team tasked with controlling a moving action zone, somewhat similar to Call of Duty's Hardpoint mode. Wardogs also features an in-battle economy system, which ties weapons, vehicles, and other unlocks to money earned during combat. Players can earn money in several ways, whether by taking on the role of a mercenary, working as a medic, or supporting their team as a logistics and transportation specialist.
While many see Wardogs as a remedy for Call of Duty and Battlefield fatigue, its gameplay philosophy differs significantly from both franchises. For starters, it is a much slower-paced experience, as it tries to deliver a more realistic first-person shooter. When players die, for example, they respawn at their squad's base, which can be miles away from the battlefield. The large maps can also leave players without action for extended periods, something most fast-paced AAA FPS games actively try to avoid.
Wardogs is set to join early access games on Steam on September 10, with developer Bulkhead targeting a 1.0 release roughly 24 months later. The early-access edition is currently priced at $39.99 USD, while the full version will cost $59.99 once it officially launches. Bulkhead has also promised no monetization during the early-access period and an easy refund process. Wardogs' UI/UX director said, "We just want to remind everyone that you can refund pre-orders and that we're more than okay with that as it's the best way to open early access to the game for players who most want it."
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