Region Lock Implementation
Bulkhead has implemented region locking in its multiplayer first-person shooter, Wardogs, citing a need to protect the majority of players from regions with higher rates of cheating. This decision has, however, drawn criticism from legitimate players in Asia and those unable to play with international friends.
The region lock is enforced by limiting the maximum ping—the player’s connection with the server—to 175. According to Bulkhead, this aims to cut down on cheating by stopping players from distant regions from entering games with unstable connections.
“We have decided to protect the largest amount of players from an influx of regions that are more prone to cheating,” Bulkhead stated. “It’s disappointing for us to have to put these divisions in place with social experience being such a core focus of Wardogs, but we must prioritize the largest group of players over the minority.”
“Region locking is in progress on the backend, but is more than a switch to make a meaningful impact to the desired effect. We’re sorry we let it get to this point that we are forced to make this decision, but we felt that giving certain regions the opportunity to prevail was the right move. Unfortunately, it has not panned out as we’d hoped and we’ll be getting stricter on cross pollination of regions.”
Player Backlash and Refund Requests
Some players are asking for refunds after being blocked from playing with international friends. Critics argued that the change negatively impacts legitimate cross-play while failing to address the root causes of cheating.
Players expressed frustration over the sudden restriction, noting they purchased the title to play cooperatively with friends across different regions rather than dealing with strict connection limitations.
Players from Asian regions highlighted concerns over facing unfair discrimination and being automatically labeled as cheaters due to ping disparities.
Despite these negative effects and community frictions, many affected users stated they continue to support the game and attempt to dispel rumors.
Community sentiment across social media indicates widespread dissatisfaction with the update, with many calling for strengthened anti-cheat measures instead of broad geographic restrictions.
Developer Response
In response to feedback, Wardogs CEO Joe Brammer acknowledged that the studio is harming a percentage of players to protect the majority while working on alternative global solutions.
Brammer clarified that the current ping-based restriction serves as a temporary fix rather than a permanent solution.
Developing a robust permanent system takes time, as accurately tracking player locations involves navigating complexities such as VPN usage.
