BULKHEAD is considering a graphics rule that sounds backwards at first: WARDOGS could let lower-end PCs disable shadows while withholding the same option from powerful systems. The proposal is meant to give struggling hardware the performance it needs without handing every player an easy visibility boost.
Shadow removal was available in an earlier alpha build, but it created a familiar problem for a competitive shooter. If turning off shadows makes opponents easier to spot, players with high-end GPUs have a reason to use the setting even when their systems can run the game comfortably.
Most PC games give everyone access to the same graphics settings and leave players to decide how much visual quality they want to sacrifice. In a competitive game, though, that choice can become part of the match. Lower textures, reduced effects, less foliage, and disabled shadows can all be worthwhile if they make enemy players easier to see.
Why WARDOGS may split the setting by hardware
BULKHEAD’s proposed answer is to reserve full shadow removal for systems that genuinely need the performance help. PCs below whatever threshold the studio sets could gain access, while high-end systems could have that option restricted.
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
That would put WARDOGS in unusual territory. Players with powerful hardware may not be able to chase cleaner sightlines by making the game look worse, while lower-end PC users could still remove a demanding effect when they need better performance. The hardware threshold would need to avoid penalizing systems that sit near the boundary, but the basic goal is clear.
Graphics settings rarely stay purely cosmetic in competitive shooters. Once a missing effect helps reveal opponents, the setting becomes part of the game’s competitive rules. BULKHEAD is trying to separate access for performance from access for visibility, and that decision could influence how fair WARDOGS feels as its audience grows.
Tell us what you think about BULKHEAD’s approach in the comments, and follow us on X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, Steam, and Telegram.
Wardogs
Developed by Bulkhead
