I don't think there's any difference between buying WARDOGS now and buying it after Season 2 starts. It's just as good value either way. I've got close to 200 hours in it already, even with the DDoS attacks and the cheaters. The only reason I'd wait for Season 2 is so you don't get dunked on by artillery and Havocs right now.
Season 2 starts on 15 October 2026 and wipes everyone's cash and XP, so a few people are asking whether it's worth jumping in for the last days of Season 1. Here's what you're buying, what the wipe means for a new player, and what will actually trip you up.
What Do You Get If You Buy WARDOGS Now?
The same game, at the same price. WARDOGS is $39.99 on Steam, in early access since 10 September 2026, with Mostly Positive reviews at 74% of over 115,000. It's busy, too: 166,441 players at its 24-hour peak on 13 October, and 402,686 at its all-time peak, per SteamCharts.
Buying now doesn't lock you out of anything. Season 2 comes to everyone who owns the game.
Will the Season 2 Wipe Waste Your Progress?
Not in a way that matters to a new player. On 15 October everyone's cash and XP reset to zero, and any leftover cash is turned into gold bars that buy permanent cosmetics. BULKHEAD is also banking XP for long-term progression it hasn't built yet, per its Season 01 devlog.
So if you buy now with $0, you lose very little on the 15th, and you go into Season 2 already knowing the maps, the vehicles, and how a match plays out. Everyone else starts from zero with you.
Why Would You Wait for Season 2?
To avoid getting dunked on by artillery and Havocs. Right now, at the end of Season 1, players who've been in since launch have unlocked the big stuff: artillery pieces and Havoc helicopters. As a brand-new player with nothing unlocked, that's what you'll be up against.
After the wipe, everyone's back to starting gear for a while. Season 2 also adds a lot for a new player to start fresh with, per MP1st's summary of BULKHEAD's Season 2 notes:
- Four new weapons: the TCX-SPR assault rifle, M14 DMR, PP-19 Bizon SMG, and Evo-3 Ultra LMG
- New vehicles: the Wolf-110 and its armed variant, the T-72B3 tank, and the Flakpanzer Gepard anti-air vehicle
- New buildables: an MG Nest, a Large Shelter, and a Wooden Step
- Rain, with thunder that can mask footsteps
- Team balance improvements: the blue Lonestar team gets new spawn positions and its own cash and XP bonuses, struggling teams get vendor discounts, and switching teams late in a match gets restricted
BULKHEAD says the full patch notes are still to come, so expect more detail.
What Will a New WARDOGS Player Struggle With First?
The pace of movement, not the pace of the game. The movement is closer to real life compared with more arcade-style shooters. If you're coming from Apex Legends, ARC Raiders, or Call of Duty: Warzone, it's going to feel slower and heavier than you're used to.
If you want a head start on the vehicles, there's a full guide on how to switch your helicopter to mouse controls.
Which Team Should a New Player Pick?
Start wherever you like when you're new. If you, as a new player, are the reason your team is winning or losing, then you have bigger problems.
Are Cheaters and DDoS Attacks a Reason to Wait?
Not really. Close to 200 hours in with both present, and the Southeast Asia servers are easily the worst for cheaters. BULKHEAD's CEO, Joe Brammer, said on 9 October that most of the team's community-server work so far has gone into fighting DDoS attacks rather than adding features, and that a dedicated team is now assigned to it.
So Should You Buy WARDOGS Now or Wait?
Either is fine. It's the same game and the same value. Buy now if you want to learn the movement and the maps before Season 2, or wait until the 15th if you'd rather start on an even footing without everyone else's artillery and Havocs. For loadout recommendations, see the best guns in WARDOGS.
