BULKHEAD Is Still Weighing Machine Learning for WARDOGS Anti-Cheat
Joe Brammer said statistical detection could help flag abnormal behavior, but accidental bans remain a concern.
BULKHEAD is still deciding how WARDOGS will handle cheating, and CEO Joe Brammer has discussed machine learning as one possible part of the answer. The studio already has tools for spotting unusual behavior, but it is working through how aggressively to use them without punishing players who are simply very good or caught in an unusual situation.
Statistical detection appears to be central to that discussion. According to Brammer, the information available to BULKHEAD can help identify when something abnormal is happening with a player. Unusual numbers alone cannot prove that someone is cheating, though, since highly skilled players and strange in-game situations can produce results that look suspicious without breaking any rules.
We're trying something new. @EndersFPS made a great video for more 'competitive' players. It took a balanced but different view from within the FPS spectrum.
I thought I'd have a nice asymetric chat with him.
Let me know your thoughts. pic.twitter.com/SpZKl7d40x
— Joe Brammer (@Brammflakes) September 6, 2026
Statistical detection has to account for false positives
An automated system that reacts to one suspicious statistic could create accidental bans. Brammer included those mistakes in the broader anti-cheat conversation, making the problem clear for a multiplayer shooter that may need to process a large amount of player data. BULKHEAD wants tools that catch dishonest behavior, but the studio also has to give legitimate players enough context and protection.
Machine learning remains one possible approach
Machine learning also came up during Brammer’s discussion, although BULKHEAD did not detail how it might be used. One possible approach would combine several sources of information when evaluating suspicious behavior instead of relying on a single trigger. For now, machine learning is only an option under consideration rather than a confirmed WARDOGS feature.
The scale of the game’s recent beta makes the decision more pressing. WARDOGS passed 245,000 concurrent players, far beyond BULKHEAD’s original target of 5,000 to 10,000. The shooter is scheduled to enter Steam Early Access on September 10, 2026, so a large audience could return when it becomes available.
BULKHEAD has not announced a final anti-cheat design or confirmed that machine learning will be part of it. Brammer’s comments do show that the studio is considering more than a simple system that bans players whenever one statistic looks strange. The eventual plan will need to catch cheaters without turning legitimate skill into a punishable offense.
What do you think BULKHEAD should prioritize in WARDOGS’ anti-cheat system? Share your thoughts in the comments, and follow us on X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, Steam, and Telegram.
Wardogs
Developed by Bulkhead
