Wardogs Devs Admit Endgame Flaws Amidst Growing XP Grind Concerns

Is the Wardogs endgame really broken?

The 100-player FPS Wardogs has hit some growing pains just three weeks into its Early Access launch. As players reach the deeper tiers of progression, a vocal segment of the community—including YouTuber JbowenDaMan—has raised concerns regarding the severe XP grind and the resulting power imbalances. Bulkhead CEO Joe Brammer recently addressed these critiques head-on, delivering a candid assessment that resonated with the player base: the current Wardogs endgame is, in his own words, a bit “sh*t.”

The Philosophy of Asymmetrical Warfare

Brammer emphasized that the core identity of Wardogs is a sandbox shooter rather than a hyper-tuned competitive FPS. The studio’s vision relies on match variety and the chaos of asymmetrical warfare. According to the development team, the “meta” is intentionally fluid:

• Intentional imbalance: Some items may be overpowered for one season and underpowered the next.
• Dynamic meta: The shifting power levels are designed to keep the gameplay loop feeling fresh.
• Sandbox priority: The goal is to avoid the rigid, stale balance often found in traditional tactical shooters.

While this approach aims to keep the game interesting, it has led to frustrating encounters where newer players struggle against veterans equipped with high-tier armor and vehicles.

Addressing the XP Grind and Gear Disparity

The feedback loop between developers and the community is currently focused on the massive disparity between players at different progression tiers. Many fans have suggested removing high-tier armor entirely to level the playing field, but Brammer suggests that stripping these elements would destroy the build variety that defines the game’s identity. Instead, the focus appears to be on refining the progression system to ensure the grind feels rewarding rather than punitive.

Sometimes in our game, we’re going to be OK with something being a bit overpowered for a season and then underpowered next season, to keep it interesting. That doesn’t mean I think level four armor is working, or that our balancing is great. – Joe Brammer, CEO of Bulkhead.

What Happens Next?

While the “endgame” is currently under the microscope, Bulkhead is clearly committed to iterating based on player data and video feedback. For those feeling the sting of the current XP grind, the message from the developers is one of acknowledgment rather than defensiveness. Moving forward, players can expect the team to tackle these imbalances, keeping the sandbox spirit alive without sacrificing the enjoyment of those working their way up the progression ladder.

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