‘Like the good old days of gaming’: Upcoming FPS Wardogs playtest earns player praise

Wardogs, the upcoming first-person shooter from Bulkhead, is currently generating significant momentum within the gaming community. The title aims to carve out a unique space in the market, bridging the gap between mainstream, arcade-style shooters like Call of Duty and Battlefield and the more unforgiving, tactical realism found in titles such as Squad or Escape from Tarkov. Following the most recent closed pre-alpha playtest, the consensus among players has been overwhelmingly positive.

The playtest sessions, held on June 26–27, hosted 4,000 participants. Demand was so high that the developers enforced a strict attendance policy, warning in a pre-event X post that those who failed to check in would be promptly replaced. While the game has undergone private testing in the past, the expanded player count for this build sparked a wave of constructive feedback across social platforms.

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‘Player feedback and testing has given us sufficient confidence that the time is right’

Early impressions have been largely glowing. “The movement and gunplay feel exceptional, and the technical performance is rock solid,” noted YouTube creator AirwingMarine, who praised the game’s blend of Battlefield-esque action and a compelling progression system. Fellow creator MrAtomicDuck offered a more concise endorsement, stating, “They’ve absolutely nailed it.”

Not all feedback was purely celebratory, however. Aherys, game director for the horror extraction shooter Beautiful Light, offered a nuanced critique. While he commended the vehicle mechanics and overall polish, he highlighted issues with player visibility—specifically the difficulty of spotting enemies concealed in dense foliage. These concerns regarding camouflage were echoed by users on Reddit, where players also noted that sniper rifles currently feel overtuned, leading to unbalanced lobbies.

Despite these minor gripes, many participants were impressed by the build’s stability. Reddit user sbargox321 described Wardogs as the spiritual successor to the Battlefield experience they had been craving, noting that it hits the “perfect equilibrium” between casual accessibility and tactical depth. Even with minor hitches, they reported frame rates consistently above 110 FPS, concluding that the pre-alpha felt remarkably polished for its current stage of development.

Perhaps the most nostalgic praise came from Twitch streamer ThatFriendlyGuy, who compared the experience to the “good old days of gaming”—long nights spent laughing and gaming with friends until the sun comes up.

It appears Bulkhead is successfully capturing the “dad game” aesthetic that CEO Joe Brammer previously outlined in an interview with Polygon. While there is no official word on the timing of the next playtest, prospective players can register for updates via the official website.

Source: Polygon