Developer behind Steam’s top-selling FPS gives players 10 reasons not to buy it

WARDOGS developer BULKHEAD has given Steam players 10 reasons not to buy its tactical FPS, even as pre-orders sent the game to the top of the platform’s premium sales chart.

The Team17-published shooter places up to 100 players across three competing teams on a destructible battlefield. Players earn persistent in-game cash through combat, transporting teammates and other actions, then spend it on weapons, equipment and vehicles for each life.

According to its Steam page, WARDOGS will enter Early Access on September 10 for $39.99. Pre-ordering also provides guaranteed access to a closed beta running from August 21-23.

BULKHEAD sets expectations ahead of Early Access

In a video released alongside pre-orders, BULKHEAD outlined 10 reasons players may be better off waiting before purchasing WARDOGS.

The first is its lack of content. Following the Early Access launch, the studio plans to prioritize bug fixes, balancing, player feedback and one additional map rather than releasing frequent content drops.

BULKHEAD also acknowledged that $39.99 may be more than some players are willing to pay for an unfinished game.

“If the price feels too high for an early access game, please don’t buy it yet,” the developer said, encouraging players to wait or refund their purchase if they do not enjoy the beta.

Another warning concerns WARDOGS’ player count. BULKHEAD expects its initial audience to shrink significantly during the months after launch, but said maintaining between 3,000 and 5,000 concurrent daily players would constitute a sustainable community.

The remaining reasons cover potential monetization after the full 1.0 launch, modest graphics and performance, changing development priorities, proximity voice chat, limited controller support and the consequences of dying.

Players lose their purchased loadout after death and must find transportation back to the fighting.

BULKHEAD also addressed its history with Battalion 1944. The studio acknowledged that the previous FPS fell to between 50 and 200 daily players and that it “went dark” on communication after its publisher relationships deteriorated.

The warnings did not prevent WARDOGS from finding an audience. PC Gamer reported that it became Steam’s top-selling premium game shortly after pre-orders opened.