Wardogs Studio Monitors Social Media for Anti-Crunch Sentiments: “If You’re Not on Board, This Isn’t the Place for You”

Bulkhead’s CEO and executive producer of Wardogs, Joe Brammer, acknowledges that while the studio strives to minimize crunch during game development, it’s a reality that can’t always be avoided. He notes that crunch will “happen at some point,” which influences their hiring practices. The studio tends to favor candidates who haven’t publicly criticized crunch on social media, as those who do may not align with the studio’s culture.

In a recent interview, Brammer discussed the contentious issue of crunch, where developers often work long hours to meet deadlines. Despite efforts across the industry to reduce this practice, it remains prevalent in many studios. Brammer recognizes the valid concerns surrounding crunch but suggests that those who oppose it may not thrive at Bulkhead.

“A lot of people who may have an issue with crunch—rightly so, I understand that issue, we always try and avoid it, but we don’t hide that this is going to happen at some point—they often don’t make it in the door,” Brammer explained.

He emphasized that Bulkhead aims to be a place where hard work is valued. “If you care about the work you’re making and the result of what you make here, you’ll feel really valued. If you don’t, you will feel slave-driven.” He added, “They know I expect people to crunch. I own that. I don’t try and hide it.”

As part of their hiring process, Bulkhead reviews potential employees’ social media accounts. Those who frequently post anti-crunch sentiments are typically not considered for positions. “We check people’s socials, and if you’re constantly tweeting anti-crunch messaging: ‘This should never ever be a thing,’ we know that and go, ‘Look, you’re not going to be happy here, so we’re not going to go with you.’”

Around the launch of Wardogs earlier this month, Brammer shared a video showcasing beds set up at the studio, indicating that some team members had been working for two days straight.

Brammer also pointed out that there are benefits to the hard work and potential crunch. Employees who hold shares in the company receive bonuses for successful titles like Wardogs, which has already sold two million copies and is performing well on Steam. However, not all employees receive these financial perks.

“If we’re going to be a company that says ‘we do crunch,’ then we have to also say, ‘but you get something for it,’” Brammer stated. He mentioned that the financial rewards can be life-changing, potentially enabling junior developers to “buy a house” or assist with a down payment. Despite this, the studio has laid off employees every year for the past six years. In 2023 and 2024, Bulkhead was recognized as one of the UK’s “Best Places To Work,” although it did not receive the same accolade in 2025.