Wardogs developer Bulkhead has revealed how rain will change the gameplay in Season 2.
Next week, Wardogs will release its second season of content, which will also add rain to the game. This will not be dynamic weather, so don’t expect it to be sunshine one minute and storming the next; matches that include rain will experience rainfall the entire time, from start to finish. However, this will result in some major changes to the game, with senior producer Kane Allard confirming to IGN that it “completely changes the game,” and as a result, some players may not actually like this addition.
“It completely changes the game, and it’s going to be positive for some players,” said Allard. “It’s going to be negative for others. Your play styles might be affected. That’s okay. It’s not like every map’s going to be permanently rain. It’s just going to be almost like a different game mode, so to speak. [It] could be that some people really love rain, some people really hate rain based on how you want to play. But it does bring a lot.”
As for how things change, it’s pretty drastic. The map is obviously darker, and your visibility is worsened. One developer even stated that he lost his sense of direction on the map because he wasn’t used to the way it looked now. The storms will cause thunder, which can be strategically used to mask gunfire or other loud noises. Raindrops will make different sounds based on the surfaces they’re hitting, including rooftops and helmets. Windows will also fog up, though it’s unclear if that allows players to be less visible when hiding in buildings. The team has also accounted for destruction, meaning if a roof is destroyed, players inside will be exposed to the rain.
As for other weather effects, Bulkhead isn’t ruling anything out, but it has to consider how something like snow would change the game both in terms of gameplay and how the game performs. Bulkhead CEO Joe Brammer stated that there are obvious changes to something like nighttime, which would add flashlights, NVGs, and lasers. Maybe one day we’ll get more, but it sounds like it may take some time to get added.
We’ve got plenty more on Wardogs, including Bulkhead on why blue team loses more, a new gambling mechanic for Season 2, and even word of a next-gen port. Wardogs Season 2 launches on October 15.
Cade Onder is a freelancer for IGN’s news team. He covers all things entertainment, including gaming, film, and more. You can find him on Twitter @Cade_Onder.