Wardogs boss Joe Brammer has admitted that the game’s endgame is “sh*t,” and he is not sorry about it. In a recent discussion video on X, Brammer responded to a video from YouTuber JbowenDaMan, addressing the XP grind, the mortar spam meta, and why the season is deliberately short.
The Mortar Spam Meta
Brammer acknowledged that players have found a dominant strategy centered around mortar ammunition. “There’s a bit of a mortar spam meta. We acknowledge that the costing of mortar ammo—you get so much more ammo. So that’s something we’re going to look at nerfing,” he said.
The issue is that players get far more mortar rounds than other forms of ammunition, making mortars the go-to weapon for the most dedicated players.
A Short Season on Purpose
Brammer explained why the season is only a few weeks long. “Season 1 is short deliberately because we knew these endgame balancing issues existed. So imagine if we had a three-month-long season, with our game three weeks in: Do you want to keep playing this for another nine weeks? No, nobody wants that. So that’s why this season is so short.”
He added that the season length was a deliberate choice to avoid players quitting mid-grind.
Balance Is a Moving Target
Brammer framed the game as a sandbox shooter rather than a competitive FPS requiring perfect balance. “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,” he said.
He was quick to qualify that this does not mean everything is fine. “I think the endgame is a bit sh*t,” he concluded.
What Players Are Asking For
Players are raising several specific complaints about the current state of the game:
- The XP grind is severe, with some players saying they enjoyed the game more before the most dedicated players unlocked the highest tiers of vehicles, armor, and weapons.
- There is a “pea shooter” problem, where lightly armed players face heavily armored opponents who shrug off multiple bullets.
- Some players want the thicker armors removed entirely, arguing that they make the game unfair for those who have not yet reached the top tiers.
- The changing playstyles week-to-week have made some matches less enjoyable, with players focusing on building or attacking FOBs rather than pushing the Hot Zone.
Brammer noted that the game’s asymmetry is part of its appeal, and removing the armor would remove valuable build variety.
Future Plans
Brammer reminded viewers that Bulkhead has plans for the metagame. The studio intends to add Tarkov-style skills that improve through repetition, such as tactical sprint duration and staying in-scope when cycling a sniper rifle bolt. These skills will persist across seasons, unlike the current cash and XP system.
A new “intel” resource will also be introduced, allowing players to unlock gun parts and attachments beyond the standard grips, scopes, and muzzles.
The Takeaway
Brammer’s honesty is refreshing. He is not pretending everything is perfect. He is saying the endgame is sh*t right now, and he knows it.
The short season is a concession to that reality. Players will not have to suffer a long grind while the studio figures out the balance.
The game remains one of the year’s favorites, despite the rough patches.
Source material: “Wardogs boss talks balance, XP, and why 'the endgame is sh*t' right now,” PC Gamer.
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