Wardogs is not going to stay a $40 game. Bulkhead, the studio behind the early access shooter on Steam, intends to raise the price in two steps: first to $49.99 when the game reaches its v0.5 milestone, and then to $59.99 when it hits v1.0, the full launch. That final step is expected within 24 months.
The plan is unusual enough to draw attention, but CEO and executive producer Joe Brammer does not treat it as a revelation. In an interview with GamesRadar+ at Gamescom, and in his own posts on X, he framed the increases as a straightforward consequence of a game that keeps getting bigger.
Two Price Steps, One Growing Game
Wardogs currently sells for $40 in early access. Under what Bulkhead calls scaling pricing, that number moves upward as the project advances. The v0.5 milestone brings the price to $49.99. The v1.0 full launch brings it to $59.99.
Brammer’s explanation is that the scale of the game and the cost of development have grown along with it. He has described Wardogs as a big FPS game that costs money to make, and he says the price should reflect that reality rather than stay fixed at its early access level.
He also pointed to how Bulkhead handles its own finances. According to Brammer, the studio controls its salaries and avoids pushing them too high. That is part of his argument that the pricing is fair rather than opportunistic.
Brammer's Message to Unconvinced Players
Brammer has not tried to soften the decision. His position is that players who disagree with the price should not buy the game. He has said there are cheaper FPS alternatives for those who are price-sensitive, and he has suggested that waiting is a reasonable option too.
For players who want in now, he has noted that buying at the current lower price is fine. The scaling model means early buyers pay less than later ones, and Brammer presents that as a fair trade rather than a penalty for latecomers.
He has also said the game is worth its price. That claim is central to his defense: the increases are not meant to squeeze more out of the same product, but to match a product that has expanded in scope and cost.
On X, Brammer Says There Is No Secret
Brammer addressed the pricing on X as well, where he wrote that the increase is not news. He stated that the price rises to $49.99 in September next year, and he said there are no secrets about the pricing plan.
That directness is consistent with how he has handled the topic publicly. Rather than leaving room for speculation, he has laid out the milestones and the numbers. The message is that players can see what is coming and decide accordingly.
Where Bulkhead Sees Itself
Bulkhead positions itself between indie and AA. Brammer has acknowledged that no one really knows what those labels mean, which makes the positioning more of a practical description than a strict category.
He has also said Wardogs’ success shows it is not just an FPS game. That matters for how the studio thinks about price: if the game is doing more than the genre baseline, Bulkhead believes the cost should reflect that.
The scaling model is one way the studio tries to square that belief with the realities of early access. Players who buy early get a lower price. Players who wait get a more complete game at a higher price. Bulkhead gets revenue that grows with the project.
A Sideways Look at GTA VI
Brammer’s comments on pricing have not been limited to his own game. He has suggested that GTA VI may have been underpriced, and that this could harm the industry in the long term. The remark fits his broader argument that games with large production costs should not be afraid to charge accordingly.
It is a notable comparison because GTA VI is not an early access shooter from a studio between indie and AA. But Brammer’s point is about the wider market: if the biggest games undercharge, the pressure on everyone else intensifies.
Questions That Remain
It is not clear whether Wardogs will come to Valve consoles or hardware such as the Steam Deck or Steam Machine. The brief does not settle that question, and Bulkhead has not made a firm commitment in the material available.
What is clear is the pricing path. Wardogs costs $40 now. It will cost $49.99 at v0.5 and $59.99 at v1.0. Full launch is expected within 24 months. Brammer says the increases reflect growing content and development costs, and he says players who do not agree should not buy.
For a studio that describes itself as sitting between indie and AA, that is a deliberate stance. Bulkhead is not trying to hide the plan or apologize for it. Brammer’s public comments, both at Gamescom and on X, amount to a simple position: the game is getting bigger, the price is going up, and players can choose what to do with that information.
