- BULKHEAD and Team17 have announced that WARDOGS will enter Steam Early Access on September 10, 2026.
- The game's Early Access is currently available to pre-order on Steam for $39.99, ditching the traditional full-price model.
- Players who pre-order WARDOGS will gain access to the Closed Beta Weekend, which begins on August 21.
Developer BULKHEAD and publisher Team17 have announced that their 100-player tactical FPS, WARDOGS, is coming to Steam Early Access on September 10, 2026. Luckily, you won’t have to pay the full price, but it won’t be free like Battlefield 6 REDSEC either, as the game will launch in Early Access at $39.99.
BULKHEAD Wants to Reward Players with WARDOGS’ Early Access Pricing
As of August 11, 2026, WARDOGS is currently available to pre-order on Steam for $39.99. BULKHEAD’s reasoning behind WARDOGS’ stepped pricing model is “to reward players who support the game earlier in development.”
During Early Access, the team will focus on community feedback and simultaneously work towards the game’s full 1.0 release. WARDOGS’ Early Access will include three maps in the Control Zone, each with three variations, alongside a mix of infantry and vehicle combat, similar to Call of Duty: Warzone.
100 players will be split into three rival teams, secure enough cash, and survive until the end to win the match. Players will use this cash to purchase weapons, vehicles, and more.
Players who pre-order WARDOGS will get access to the game’s Closed Beta Weekend starting on 21 August, 2026 and concluding on 23 August, similar to Modern Warfare 4’s Open Beta Weekend. Local voice chat will also be available during the Early Access, allowing players to chat with each other across three teams.
BULKHEAD CEO Joe Brammer has acknowledged that an Early Access pre-order is unusual, but he says, “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.”
In addition, BULKHEAD has also confirmed that there will be no in-game microtransactions during WARDOGS’ Early Access period. So, you can experience a monetization-free FPS experience, unlike Ubisoft’s recent The Division: Resurgence. However, a Supporters Edition, which includes exclusive cosmetic items, will be available for players who want to show additional support for the developers and the game.
If you pay the $39.99 price of WARDOGS’ Early Access, you won’t have to spend a dollar more on in-game cosmetics and other goodies.
Will you be pre-ordering it on Steam? Tell us in the comments section below.
