‘Go Play GTA 6, We Need to Detox,’ Wardogs Developer Tells Fans as It Prepares to Take December Off
Bulkhead Interactive, the developer behind the hugely successful Early Access sandbox multiplayer shooter Wardogs, announced plans to shut down all development work for the entire month of December. CEO Joe Brammer revealed this decision in an exclusive interview with Edge Magazine, describing the month-long break as a necessary “detox” for the studio following months of intense post-launch support.
Since its launch, Wardogs has been supported with a relentless schedule of balance patches, hotfixes, and both major and minor updates. This continuous development cycle has kept the team in a perpetual state of crunch. Rather than downplaying the need for rest, Brammer was notably candid, explicitly encouraging players to “go play Grand Theft Auto 6” instead of waiting for new content, effectively giving both players and the team permission to step back.
The decision comes following some community friction, including backlash over the studio’s region-locking implementation designed to combat cheating in the competitive multiplayer environment. By taking December off, Bulkhead aims to give its developers time to rest and recharge before resuming support in the new year.
This move reflects a broader industry recognition of developer burnout and the unsustainable nature of aggressive post-launch support schedules. Bulkhead’s transparent approach—with the CEO publicly acknowledging the human cost of continuous development—signals a refreshing willingness to prioritize team well-being over keeping players constantly engaged with new content.