Wardogs studio CEO issues new statement, after backlash for saying his studio won’t hire people who “constantly tweet anti-crunch messaging”
Joe Brammer, CEO of Bulkhead Entertainment, has responded to backlash following controversial comments about crunch culture at the studio behind the commercially successful FPS Wardogs. In an interview with The Game Business, Brammer revealed that Bulkhead screens prospective employees’ social media for public criticism of development crunch, deliberately avoiding candidates who frequently post “anti-crunch messaging.”
This sparked significant social media backlash, with critics questioning the studio’s hiring practices and labour practices. Brammer subsequently issued clarifications claiming articles had taken his comments “out of context,” denying he stated crunch is “mandatory” and providing evidence of employee support systems. He noted that 80% of Bulkhead’s shares are owned by 50% of its staff.
The controversy comes as Wardogs has achieved commercial success, selling over two million copies in its first week on Steam early access. However, the CEO’s comments about social media monitoring in hiring decisions have raised potential legal concerns in the UK regarding employment discrimination.
Sources
- Wardogs studio CEO issues new statement, after backlash for saying his studio won’t hire people who “constantly tweet anti-crunch messaging”
- WARDOGS CEO Addresses ‘Mandatory Crunch’ Claims
- Wardogs CEO Officially Addresses Crunch Allegations With ‘The Other Side’
- “They often don’t make it in the door”: Wardogs studio Bulkhead check for “anti-crunch messaging” on prospective hires’ social media, CEO says