WARDOGS FAQ
The five answers most people arrive for
WARDOGS releases 10 September 2026 in Steam Early Access, PC only, for US$39.99. It is not free to play. Console versions for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S are confirmed as planned but have no date. Matches hold 100 players across three teams fighting over one randomised 2×2 km Control Zone. There are no classes — you buy your role with in-match cash before every life.
Sections
Release and access
When does WARDOGS release?
10 September 2026, in Steam Early Access on PC. Full release timeline →
What time does WARDOGS unlock?
Not confirmed by Team17. The common Steam slot of 10:00 Pacific would be 18:00 BST and 01:00 the next day in Beijing, but treat that as unconfirmed. Timezone table →
Is 10 September the full release?
No, it is the Early Access launch. BULKHEAD estimates one to two years before version 1.0, which has no date.
Can you play WARDOGS yet?
No. The 21–24 August Closed Beta is over. The next confirmed public access is Steam Early Access on 10 September 2026. Beta recap & next steps →
Will there be another WARDOGS beta?
Not confirmed. BULKHEAD has announced a major presentation for 3 September, but the official recap does not promise another playable test.
Is there a WARDOGS beta key?
No. Access is a Steam entitlement that appears in your library. There is nothing to buy or redeem, and sites offering keys are not legitimate.
Can I preload WARDOGS?
No preload has been announced. The build is around 50 GB.
How long will WARDOGS be in Early Access?
BULKHEAD estimates one to two years.
Price and monetisation
How much is WARDOGS?
US$39.99 standard, US$49.99 Supporter Edition, in Early Access. Price breakdown →
Is WARDOGS free to play?
No. It is a paid premium game with no free-to-play version and no announced free trial.
Will the price go up?
Yes. Team17 has said it rises to $49.99, then $59.99 once the game leaves Early Access. Buying at launch is the cheapest entry point.
Is the Supporter Edition worth it?
It adds a cosmetic pack for US$10 and no gameplay content. It is a way to support the studio, not a competitive upgrade.
Is WARDOGS pay to win?
Nothing announced sells power. In-match cash is earned by playing and resets each match; the paid edition is cosmetic only.
Does WARDOGS have a battle pass or microtransactions?
Neither has been announced or documented. Details →
Platforms
Is WARDOGS on PS5?
Not yet. BULKHEAD has confirmed a PS5 version is planned but has given no date, and it is not part of Early Access. Console status →
Is WARDOGS on Xbox or Game Pass?
An Xbox Series X|S version is planned with no date. No Game Pass deal has been announced.
What platforms is WARDOGS on?
PC via Steam only, at launch. No Epic, GOG, Mac or native Linux version.
Is WARDOGS coming to Switch 2?
Nothing has been announced. Reports of a 2027 Switch 2 release are press speculation.
Does WARDOGS have crossplay?
Not applicable at launch — it is PC-only. No crossplay policy has been published for future console versions.
Does WARDOGS work on Steam Deck or Linux?
No verified support. Kernel-level Easy Anti-Cheat is the blocker and Linux is not a stated priority. Why →
Gameplay
How many players are in a WARDOGS match?
Up to 100, split across three teams.
How do you win in WARDOGS?
First team to 100 points. Points go to whichever team has the most players inside the Control Zone. Scoring explained →
Does WARDOGS have classes?
No. Your role each life is defined by what you buy at the buy screen. Loadouts →
How much money do you start with?
$10,000 at the start of every match. Cash economy →
How do you earn money in WARDOGS?
Reviving allies, holding the Control Zone, transporting team-mates, running supplies, and kills. Support play is designed to be financially competitive with fragging.
Do you lose your money when you die?
No. You lose the equipment you were carrying; your banked balance stays.
Can you build in WARDOGS?
Yes — forward operating bases, mortar stations, anti-air emplacements and sniper towers. Building guide →
Can you destroy buildings in WARDOGS?
Partly. Destruction is deliberately capped after BULKHEAD found unrestricted destruction flattened entire maps within an hour.
Does WARDOGS have vehicles?
Tanks, APCs, transport and light attack helicopters, armed civilian vehicles and artillery. Jets are planned during Early Access. Vehicles →
Does WARDOGS have proximity voice chat?
Yes. Proximity-based voice communication is a confirmed feature.
Can you play WARDOGS solo?
Yes, and lone-wolf play is explicitly supported, though the economy rewards team actions.
Content and scale
How many maps does WARDOGS have?
Three planned for Early Access. Bakurani is the one shown publicly. Maps →
How big are WARDOGS maps?
16×16 km each — 256 km² — with a randomised 2×2 km Control Zone.
How many game modes does WARDOGS have?
One: the three-team Control Zone fight.
What are the three factions?
LONESTAR, VALKYRA and MANTICORE. Factions →
Can you choose your faction?
No faction-selection system has been announced.
Does WARDOGS have a single-player campaign?
No. It is online multiplayer PvP only.
Does WARDOGS have bots or an offline mode?
Neither has been announced.
How many weapons does WARDOGS have?
No weapon count has been published. Weapons →
Technical
Can my PC run WARDOGS?
Minimum is a GTX 1660 or RX 590 with an i5-8600 or Ryzen 5 3500 and 16 GB RAM. Full requirements →
How big is the WARDOGS download?
Around 50 GB.
What anti-cheat does WARDOGS use?
Kernel-level Easy Anti-Cheat. What that means →
Does WARDOGS support controllers?
Controller support is officially described as limited. Plan on mouse and keyboard.
What languages does WARDOGS support?
Fourteen: English, French, Italian, German, Spanish (Spain), Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Polish, Turkish and Ukrainian.
Why won't WARDOGS launch?
First confirm an official access window is open. Error 1147405308 after the August beta reflects an inactive Playtest, not a local launch fix. For a real client failure, verify files and read the exact error before changing security settings. Troubleshooting →
What is WARDOGS error code 1147405308?
It appears with “Access Denied” and “Failed to authenticate with online services.” During the beta it appeared during a login-service incident; after the beta the Playtest is closed. Full explanation →
Comparisons and background
Who makes WARDOGS?
BULKHEAD develops it — the British studio behind The Turing Test and the Battalion shooters — and Team17 publishes it.
Is WARDOGS like Battlefield?
It shares combined-arms warfare, vehicles and large maps. It differs structurally: three teams rather than two, one randomised Control Zone rather than a chain of capture points, a per-life cash buy economy rather than unlock progression, and player-built fortifications.
Is WARDOGS worth buying?
It depends on your tolerance for unfinished games. Our honest read →
How many wishlists does WARDOGS have?
It passed 800,000 Steam wishlists when pre-orders opened and has since been reported at over a million.
Sources: every answer above traces to the official WARDOGS Steam store page, Team17's game page, BULKHEAD's developer page, official Team17 developer videos, or clearly attributed press reporting of developer statements. Where no official answer exists, the answer says so. See our editorial policy. Back to the WARDOGS wiki.