WARDOGS, the 100-player tactical shooter from Bulkhead and Team17, arrives on Steam as an Early Access title. The launch date and exact server time are locked in, so you can plan around the moment the servers open.
Quick answer: WARDOGS launches on September 10, 2026 at 16:00 UTC (6:00 PM CEST). Status: Confirmed for PC via Steam Early Access.
Release time: September 10, 2026, 16:00 UTC (6:00 PM CEST)
WARDOGS launch status and time
The release is confirmed, not a window or a rumor. WARDOGS unlocks worldwide at a single moment set to 16:00 UTC, which lines up with 6:00 PM in Central Europe. Because it launches at one global time, players in later time zones will see the servers go live during the early hours of September 11.
You will know the game is live when the store page switches from a pre-purchase state to an install option in your Steam library, and the client shows the download becoming available at unlock. The game is coming to Steam only at launch, with the developer saying other platforms will be considered later in development.
WARDOGS release time by region
Use the table below to find when the servers open in your area. All times convert from the single 16:00 UTC unlock.
| Region | Local release time |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles (PT) | 9:00 AM, September 10 |
| New York (ET) | 12:00 PM, September 10 |
| Brazil (BRT) | 1:00 PM, September 10 |
| United Kingdom (BST) | 5:00 PM, September 10 |
| Central Europe (CEST) | 6:00 PM, September 10 |
| South Africa | 6:00 PM, September 10 |
| China (CST) | 12:00 AM, September 11 |
| Japan (JST) | 1:00 AM, September 11 |
| East Coast Australia (AEST) | 2:00 AM, September 11 |
| New Zealand (NZST) | 4:00 AM, September 11 |
| Universal Time (UTC) | 4:00 PM, September 10 |
Editions and price
WARDOGS ships in two editions, both available to pre-purchase on the official WARDOGS Steam page. The Supporter Edition bundles the base game with a cosmetic pack.
| Edition | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $39.99 / £36.99 / 39,99€ | Base game |
| Supporter | $49.99 / £45.99 / 49,99€ | Base game plus Supporter Pack |
The Supporter Pack adds three Starter Weapon camos, the Valkyra Branded A-91 Rifle camo, the Lonestar Branded Bushmaster camo, the Manticore Branded KH-2002 camo, the Littlebird Helicopter “Taxi” camo, a Supporter icon on the scoreboard that can be hidden in settings, plus grenade and helmet bobbleheads.
Note: The price is set lower during Early Access. Bulkhead has said it plans to raise the cost closer to the full release, so buying in now locks the current entry price.
What you get at Early Access launch
WARDOGS is a large-scale tactical FPS set in the derelict industrial mountains of Eastern Europe. A match puts up to 100 players into three opposing teams fighting over a randomized 2x2km Control Zone somewhere inside a 256km² map. The team with the most players inside the zone scores points, and the first team to 100 points wins the match.
Every player starts each life with $10,000 and buys a custom loadout from weapons, gear, utility items, and vehicles. Teamplay actions pay out cash, so reviving squadmates, transporting friendlies into the zone, and holding the objective all earn money you can reinvest. A smaller, moving hot zone grants double points and cash, which can swing a close match.
The Early Access build is described as fully playable and representative of the core game. At launch you can expect the following:
- 100-player, three-team matches on large destructible maps with dynamic objective zones.
- Cash and XP progression where combat, support, and logistics all earn rewards.
- Vehicles including helicopters and tanks, plus base-building and repair options.
- Realistic gunplay balanced for gameplay, with proximity voice chat.
- No battle pass and no microtransactions; cosmetics are earned by playing.
Bulkhead expects WARDOGS to stay in Early Access for roughly one to two years while it expands maps, weapons, vehicles, progression, and a seasonal meta game. The build uses Easy Anti-Cheat with kernel-level protection and supports online PvP and Family Sharing.
PC system requirements
WARDOGS runs on Windows and targets a minimum of 60 FPS. Confirm your PC meets at least the minimum spec before launch.
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 | Windows 11 |
| Processor | Intel Core i5 8600 / AMD Ryzen 5 3500 | Intel Core i7 12700k / AMD Ryzen 7 5700x |
| Memory | 16 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics | Nvidia GTX 1660 / Radeon RX 590 | Nvidia RTX 3070 / AMD RX 6700 XT |
| Storage | 30 GB available | 40 GB available |
| Target | 1080p Low @ 60fps+ | 1440p Medium @ 70fps+ or 4K Medium @ 60fps+ |
System requirements may shift as development continues. With the release time locked to 16:00 UTC on September 10, the fastest way to be ready is to pre-load through your Steam library and confirm the install begins the moment servers open.
