The team behind Wardogs expects to bring the game to next-gen consoles in the future.
Although some would argue that this console generation has yet to meet its full potential, platform holders are already ramping up for the next one with Sony’s PlayStation 6 and Xbox’s Project Helix, though neither company has locked in an official release window. However, it does mean some developers have to start planning ahead, and one of those studios is Bulkhead, the team behind the new shooter Wardogs.
In an exclusive interview with IGN, we talked about plans for the game’s eventual console release. Wardogs is currently slated to make the jump to consoles in 2028, which begs the question: Will it release on next-gen hardware? Bulkhead says it’s not even really a question.
“I think there’s not too much to consider,” said Bulkhead co-founder Howard Philpott. “We make the game performant, we’re going to get it on the next-gen consoles. From our perspective, it’s a straight port. So yeah, absolutely is the short answer, to be honest.”
Senior producer Kane Allard noted that Bulkhead is already speaking with platform holders about the console versions of Wardogs, and doesn’t anticipate any issues bringing the game to next-gen machines.
“We’re obviously already in conversation with the proprietors of those platforms, and they’re going to have certain criteria that we have to match, and I assume it’s going to be the same for those other consoles as well. So from our perspective, if we get it on a base Xbox or base PlayStation, it shouldn’t be much more work to get it on next-gen, and it should just be more performance. So I don’t think it gives us anything new.”
Last month, former PlayStation Worldwide Studios boss Shuhei Yoshida said Sony and Nintendo should make their current consoles last as long as possible amid soaring costs that have already prompted PS5 and Switch 2 price rises. Yoshida told The Verge that console companies needed to focus on sustaining their current hardware platforms for “as long as possible.”
We know that a PS6 is on the way at some point. Previously, analysts had suggested a 2028 launch seemed likely, though Sony is yet to make any official indication of when PS6 may arrive — and as time goes on, that late 2028 release date feels less and less likely.
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has insisted Project Helix remains part of Microsoft’s gaming plan, but has also said next-gen Xbox hardware will be a “family of devices.” “We are moving to a family of devices for Gen-10,” she said in a memo reported by Windows Central. “There is not one device that fits all. We will certainly have a great console first, but we also know that many players will be on the go. There are some things that we are the best in the world to manufacture, and there are other things that will we partner on. So, we will be sharing more about that as our plans develop. The operating system is starting to look really good. We’re very excited about this.”
For now, anyone looking to play Wardogs will have to check out the PC version, which is currently in early access. Next week sees the launch of Season 2, which will introduce major gameplay features such as rain.