WARDOGS | 10 Reasons NOT to Buy

Storyline / Premise

• No formal single-player storyline is described in the subtitles. The video frames War Dogs as a competitive multiplayer shooter focused on core gameplay loops, progression/meta, and match roles (e.g., roles like pilots/drivers).

Gameplay Highlights (What’s Emphasized)

• Core gameplay first: Developers prioritize gameplay and performance over large amounts of launch content.

Match Structure and Stakes

• After dying, you don’t simply wait for an arbitrary respawn timer.
• Your respawn time and return to combat depend on choices made from spawn, such as:
  • Taking a vehicle or catching a lift
  • Choosing which vehicle
  • Deciding whether you can trust a pilot
• This is presented as a risk/reward system with consequences tied to the “cash” economy.

Communication System

• Local VoIP is heard by all three teams, so players and devs can talk naturally.
• Players can:
  • Mute individual players
  • Mute VoIP entirely
  • Disable text chat
• Moderation is delegated to server admins and/or dev intervention if needed.

Input and Aiming

• PC is the primary platform (keyboard/mouse preferred).
• Partial gamepad support is planned for early access, with small aim assist—claimed to be required because without it controller play is “comically bad.”
• No “handouts”: success still requires mastery.

“10 Reasons NOT to Buy” (Key Points / Strategies / Key Expectations)

Reason 1: Lack of Content / Slower Content Cadence

Launch early access is limited in variety:

• 37 weapons
• 21 vehicles
• 3 maps, each with 3 variations

After early access launch, the focus is expected to be:

• Bug fixes
• Responding to major feedback
• A new map
• Balancing and issue fixes (rather than frequent “shiny” content drops)

They explicitly set expectations:

• No monthly map updates or constant additions.
• More substantial content and the full vision arrive with 1.0.

Pricing Approach (Tied to Missing Meta / Features)

• Full release price target: $59.99
• Early access pricing reduction due to missing meta/1.0 features:
  • $49.99 after some first-year updates land
  • $39.99 during the early access period/year one as communicated
• Refundable pre-order: if the player dislikes the beta or thinks the price isn’t right, refund it.

Reason 4: Monetization Concerns (And What’s Not Included)

During early access:

• No monetization at any point (as claimed in the subtitles), except an optional supporter’s edition

Supporter’s edition includes:

• Starter weapon skins
• A “little bird” skin
• A couple of bobbleheads
• A support tag on the scoreboard

They claim they will never do:

• Monetize with in-game cash/gold bars
• Sell camos (skins) that would display purchase value; camo is framed as a status display rather than pay-to-win monetization

They also frame monetization discussions as long-term and tied to post-1.0 costs (servers, anti-cheat, telemetry, etc.).

Performance Expectations

They warn against mismatched expectations:

• If you want “breakthrough next-gen graphics”, they say that’s not the game.
• If you expect Counter-Strike/Valorant-style 240 FPS native 4K, that’s also “not the game.”

Suggested actions:

• Check Steam minimum/recommended specs
• Watch a dev blog showing alpha performance across hardware
• Pre-order the beta and refund if performance/hype doesn’t match

Reason 6: Early Access Won’t Follow a Fixed Roadmap

• Early access is described as testing live with the community, with priorities shifting at “random times.”
• They acknowledge early access’s bad reputation, but say War Dogs has a plan:
  • 1.0 targeted ~24 months after early access launch in September

Goal for 1.0:

• Deliver the full meta game/vision
• Release across multiple platforms

Studio Trust / History (Battalion 1944 Lessons)

Developers (Bulkhead) claim their previous project Battalion 1944 struggled:

• Low player counts (described as 50–200 daily players)
• Legal/console issues and communication problems
• They claim they later refunded every Kickstarter backer

Conclusion/tip:

• If you don’t trust them because of that history, don’t rush to buy.
• The argument: they’ve learned from those “scars.”

Reason: Local VoIP and Banter May Not Be for Everyone

• Because VoIP is heard by all three teams, banter is expected.
• Moderation controls exist, and inappropriate behavior may lead to bans—ending with a blunt warning that if devs ban you, you likely deserve it.

Reason: Death / Re-Entry Mechanics Are Punishing by Design

• Don’t treat it like arcade shooters where respawn is just a timer.
• Design philosophy:
  • Dying early and rushing leads to frequent deaths because others play more cautiously.
  • Returning to combat is a decision, not a countdown.

Strategy implication (from what’s described):

• Learn what options from spawn give the fastest/safer route back (vehicle choice, whether you can trust a pilot, etc.).
• Role choices (pilot/driver) matter because they help teammates return to the control zone.

Key Tips / Expectations to “Get It Right”

• Don’t expect:
  • frequent content drops during early access
  • a linear roadmap
  • performance like the highest-end esports shooters at extreme native 4K/240 FPS
  • pay-to-win monetization during early access (besides the optional supporter bundle)
• If you die often:
  • adjust risk-taking—death affects the route back, and respawn is tied to spawn choices
• Check specs and dev blogs before committing, and consider refunding if expectations don’t match.

Early Access / Release Info Mentioned

• War Dogs releases into Steam Early Access next month on the 10th of September.
• Steam pre-orders are live.
• Purchases guarantee access to a closed beta on the 21st of August (as stated in the subtitles).
• A supporter’s edition is also available.

Gamers / Sources Featured

Referenced Communities / Roles

• Counter-Strike players (mentioned as a performance comparison target)
• Valorant players (mentioned as a performance comparison target)
• “Journalists and influencers” (mentioned generally, not named)

Named Developers / Studios / Brands

• Bulkhead (developer/studio; referenced as holding the IP)
• Valve (mentioned for blessing/support of Early Access)
• UE5 (engine reference)

Named Game Title

• Battalion 1944 (developer’s previous project)

People Mentioned by Name in Subtitles

• Joe (appears in an early banter line: “God damn it, Joe…”)

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