WARDOGS is a large-scale multiplayer shooter built around 100-player battles and squad-based combat. Players are divided into three teams and fight across maps filled with vehicles, fortifications, and buildings that can be destroyed. The game also has a cash system that lets you carry money from one match into the next.
WARDOGS launched in Steam Early Access on September 10, 2026 and is available on PC. The game remains in development, with more content and improvements expected before the full 1.0 launch.
On the US Steam store, the standard edition costs $39.99 and the Supporter Edition $49.99. The latest announced closed beta ended September 6. Only PC is confirmed.
WARDOGS release date and platform
WARDOGS entered Steam Early Access on Thursday, September 10, 2026. BULKHEAD is developing the game and Team17 is publishing it.
Only a PC version has been announced. The Steam listing does not show PS5, Xbox Series X|S, or another console platform, and the developer has not given a console release date. That could change during development, but there is no confirmed console version to plan around today.
The September closed beta has ended
The latest announced test ran from September 3 at 19:00 UTC to September 6 at 08:00 UTC:
- Pre-orders: guaranteed access to that test.
- Wider Playtest access: was granted in waves, not guaranteed to every applicant.
That test window is over. The paid Early Access game is now available on Steam; buying it is separate from joining the earlier closed beta.
If you are also watching another major shooter test, the Gears of War: E-Day beta guide has its dates, preload details, modes, and rewards in one place.
WARDOGS price and editions
The standard edition is $39.99 on the US Steam store. A $49.99 Supporter Edition includes the base game and the WARDOGS Supporter Pack. Steam lists the Supporter Pack separately as additional content, but the public store page does not frame it as a gameplay requirement.
WARDOGS is not free-to-play. The developers say Early Access is meant to cost less than the eventual full release, and the price may rise as the game adds content and gets closer to 1.0.
The earlier beta offer is not a guarantee of access to a new test.
What kind of game is WARDOGS?
WARDOGS is a large-scale tactical first-person shooter, not a battle royale and not an extraction shooter. Up to 100 players are divided across three teams. Everyone fights over randomized Control Zones placed inside larger maps.
The main mode borrows the pressure of King of the Hill. The team with the most players inside the active 2x2-kilometer Control Zone earns points, and the first team to reach 100 wins. Because the zone changes location, a strong position in one match may be far less useful in the next.
Cash changes how each life starts
Every player begins with $10,000. Each time you respawn, you buy a custom loadout using weapons, equipment, utility, and vehicles. Cash carries between matches, so spending everything on one expensive push can affect what you can afford later.
The economy rewards more than kills. Reviving teammates, moving players toward the zone, and holding the objective all earn money. You can chase the Hot Zone for double cash, transport supplies by helicopter, build a forward operating base, snipe from a distance, or bring an armored vehicle into the fight.
Building and destruction work in both directions
Players can fortify useful positions, but the environment is also destructible. Apartment blocks can be damaged with rockets, towns can be pushed through with tanks, and a defensive position can disappear if the other team brings enough force. Proximity voice chat keeps the battlefield noisy and gives nearby players another way to coordinate—or distract the enemy.
What is available in Early Access?
BULKHEAD describes the Early Access build as fully playable and representative of the core idea. The listed launch features include:
- 100-player matches split across three teams
- Large maps with moving objective zones
- Cash and XP rewards tied to combat, support, and logistics
- Vehicles, building, destruction, and support-focused roles
- Online multiplayer with proximity voice chat
- Gunplay designed to feel grounded without becoming a strict military simulation
Early Access also means the balance, performance, content, and progression can change. This is not the finished 1.0 release. Check recent performance reports for your hardware before buying.
How long will WARDOGS stay in Early Access?
The current plan is roughly one to two years. BULKHEAD says that time will be used to expand maps, weapons, vehicles, objectives, progression, seasonal systems, balance, performance, and stability.
The full version is planned to add more gameplay variety and deeper reasons to keep playing beyond a single match. Fighter jets, broader vehicle options, new weapon categories, a stronger seasonal metagame, and more detailed progression are among the ideas named on the Steam page. They are plans, not promises with fixed delivery dates.
WARDOGS FAQ
Is WARDOGS free?
No. The standard Early Access edition is listed at $39.99 on the US Steam store.
Is WARDOGS coming to PS5 or Xbox?
No console version is currently confirmed. The September 10 Early Access release is available on Steam for PC.
How many players are in a WARDOGS match?
The core mode supports up to 100 players split across three teams.
Does WARDOGS have destruction?
Yes. Buildings and battlefield structures can be damaged, while players can also build and fortify positions.
Can you still join the September closed beta?
No. Its announced window ended September 6 at 08:00 UTC. Pre-order access applied to that test.
