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“Go play GTA 6, we need to detox”: Wardogs studio Bulkhead is taking a month-long break
Bulkhead Studios, the developer of the early access game Wardogs, plans to give its entire team December off after the launch. CEO Joe Brammer says staff have worked beyond their usual roles and earned the chance to rest, while encouraging players to take a break from the game too.
Brammer expects GTA 6 to give players something else to focus on during the studio’s month-long absence. The team anticipates that bug reports and balance complaints may build up, but hopes players will return to Wardogs in January; the plan reflects a willingness to let audiences turn their attention to another major release.
In short
- Bulkhead will give its full team December off.
- The break follows Wardogs’ early access launch.
- Brammer expects GTA 6 to occupy players.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Giving the whole team December off recognises the effort staff have put in and can help them recover after launch, supporting their wellbeing and the studio’s longer-term ability to make the game well. Encouraging players to take a break also sets reasonable expectations about support during the pause and acknowledges that gaming should be enjoyable rather than obligatory.
The case against
A month without the developer available could leave players facing bugs or balance problems with no timely response, which may weaken confidence in an early access game. Some may also see the timing as risking momentum and community engagement just after launch, particularly if unresolved issues affect whether they return in January.
Explained simply
Bulkhead is a British video game studio, and Wardogs is its multiplayer game, released in early access. Early access means players can try a game while it is still being developed, and their feedback can help shape later updates.
A studio-wide break means there may be no team available to respond to problems or make changes during that period. GTA 6 is the next instalment in Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto series, a major open-world action game; its release is expected to draw attention from players and the wider games industry.