What a weekend for Bulkhead: The beta for Wardogs went head-to-head on Steam with none other than Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 — attracting almost half a million people in the process. For a new IP from a comparatively small studio, that's a strong statement.
How close did Wardogs really get to Call of Duty?
The closed beta ran from August 21st to 23rd and, according to GameStar and PC Gamer, attracted nearly 500,000 players over the three days – access was only available to those who had pre-ordered the $39.99 Early Access version. At its peak on August 23rd, 105,774 concurrent players were recorded on its dedicated Steam Playtest entry. Modern Warfare 4 reached a peak of 115,145 concurrent players in the same period – a difference of just about 10,000 players between a brand-new IP and Activision's flagship franchise. For a brief period, both games even jointly topped the Steam bestseller charts.
What exactly is Wardogs?
Wardogs is a tactical multiplayer shooter for 100 players, divided into three rival teams, battling for control zones on a destructible battlefield in the industrial ruins of Eastern Europe. The title is being developed by the British studio BULKHEAD and published by Team17. Those who want to see for themselves can find all game details on Wardogs' official Steam page.
Why is this more than just a side note?
Incidentally, Wardogs' rapid ascent isn't entirely new to us: As early as the beginning of August, we reported on Wardogs' initial surge to the top of Steam – at the time, the developers themselves warned against overblown expectations. The fact that the game can now compete head-to-head with one of the biggest shooter franchises ever shows that the hype was no flash in the pan. Things weren't entirely smooth for Modern Warfare 4 either: We had reported that the reception to its first beta weekend was mixed. This very combination of circumstances likely played further into Wardogs' hands.
What this means for players: If you want to join Wardogs, you'll have to wait until September 10th, when Early Access officially launches. From our perspective, the sheer number is remarkable enough, but the message behind it is even more interesting: Big brands are no longer automatically safe in the highly competitive shooter market – if a small studio hits the right gameplay sweet spot, it can hold its own even against multi-million-dollar marketing budgets.
What do you think of Wardogs – a hot competitor for Call of Duty or just a brief beta flash in the pan? Let us know in the comments!
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