Season 2 of Wardogs, the multiplayer sandbox FPS currently making waves in early access, took an unexpected turn with the introduction of a unique “social experiment.” The game developers, Bulkhead, aimed to rehabilitate the reputation of the Lonestar faction, also known as the Blue Team, by offering bonus XP and cash exclusively to Blue players. The goal was to attract more skilled players to the faction, improve their win rates, and enhance their image within the game.

However, just one day into the experiment, Bulkhead CEO Joe Brammer admitted that they had made a mistake. The bonus scheme, which provided a slight increase in cash and XP rewards, led to unforeseen consequences.

Despite the modest bonuses of 5% cash and 2.5% XP, some players, labeled as “tryhards” by Brammer, were able to exploit the system and earn significant amounts of in-game currency. This unanticipated outcome disrupted the game’s progression balance, with top players accumulating substantial bonuses.

Furthermore, the rush of players joining the Lonestar faction at the start of matches caused server issues, as players would switch factions to maximize their bonuses. This led to delays in match starts until all teams were adequately filled with players.

Following the debacle, Bulkhead decided to cancel the bonus scheme and focus on more conventional methods of balancing the game. Adjustments such as changing spawn locations on the Bakuriani map proved to be more effective in improving the win rates of the troubled faction.

Next on Bulkhead’s agenda is addressing a vehicle XP exploit that allows players to rapidly gain experience rewards by repeatedly entering and exiting a faction’s HQ. This exploit, combined with Season 2’s increased XP rewards for logistical tasks, has resulted in the premature unlocking of late-game vehicles like tanks. To counter this, Bulkhead has temporarily reverted vehicle progression rates to Season 1 levels.