BULKHEAD and Team17 have confirmed that WARDOGS hits Steam Early Access on September 10, 2026, priced at $39.99. The announcement comes off the back of a closed test that generated serious momentum, with the game sitting at nearly one million wishlists heading into launch.
What the closed test proved
The reception to WARDOGS' closed test was strong enough that BULKHEAD moved quickly on an early access date. Content creators and everyday players alike came away impressed, and the wishlist count reflects that. Nearly a million wishlists for an original IP in the shooter genre is not something you see every week.
Before early access opens, there's one more opportunity to get hands-on. A closed beta runs August 21 through 23, and every pre-order includes access to it. That's a deliberate choice by the studio.
Joe Brammer, BULKHEAD's CEO, addressed the unusual nature of taking pre-orders for an early access game directly: "Taking pre-orders for an Early Access game is unusual, and we know some people will question it, but WARDOGS has never been about playing it safe. Rather than asking players to take our word for it, every pre-order includes access to the Closed Beta, so they can get hands-on, see exactly where the game is today and make up their own minds. If they play it and decide it is not for them, that is completely fair."
Hard to argue with that logic.
How WARDOGS actually plays
For anyone who hasn't been following the game, WARDOGS drops three teams of players into large-scale maps, with 100 players total per match. The loop revolves around earning in-match cash through combat, then spending that money to upgrade loadouts, call in vehicles, and gain other tactical advantages. It's a structure that rewards coordination and smart resource management, not just raw aim.
If you've put time into Hell Let Loose or any of the recent Battlefield entries, the core appeal here is immediately obvious. WARDOGS is chasing that same large-scale, combined-arms feel, but with its own economy-driven twist on top.
The $39.99 early access price and what comes next
The $39.99 price point sits below what the full release will cost. BULKHEAD has indicated the game will launch at a higher price alongside a complete roadmap when it exits early access, so getting in now locks in the lower rate.
The no-monetization promise during early access is worth paying attention to. Plenty of games have made similar commitments and walked them back once player counts stabilized. BULKHEAD is banking on goodwill here, and the closed test results suggest they've earned enough of it to make that bet.
For players planning to jump in at launch, the WARDOGS guides collection will be the place to get up to speed on the game's systems before September 10. Broader gaming guides are also available if you want to prep across other titles in the meantime.
The August 21-23 closed beta is the last real look before early access opens. Pre-ordering gets you in, and given what the last test produced in terms of community buzz, that window is worth watching closely.
