Bulkhead, the studio best known for Battalion 1944 and The Turing Test, has dated the official Steam Early Access release of its large-scale multiplayer shooter, Wardogs, for 10th September. This release follows a series of invite-only playtests. Pre-orders have just gone live, giving players a guaranteed spot in a closed beta happening later in August.
Closed Beta Access and Pricing Structure
Anyone who pre-orders now will be able to participate in the Wardogs closed beta, which takes place exclusively on Steam between 21st and 23rd August. For this beta, Bulkhead has promised a full refund to any player not satisfied with their experience, demonstrating their trust in the quality of the current build.
Wardogs enters early access at a price of $40, which will rise to $60 at the time of full release. At launch, there will be no in-game monetisation options apart from some “Supporters edition” cosmetics. The introduction of paid cosmetic content will be reserved until the game reaches full release and leaves early access.
Gameplay Scale and Content at Launch
Designed for up to 100 players per match, Wardogs delivers large battles across sprawling maps inspired by the likes of Battlefield, while weaving in organizational mechanics found in games such as Hell Let Loose, Squad, or Arma. Early access will offer three maps at launch, each with three different versions, and a variety of vehicles and weapons available for players.
Central to Wardogs is the Control Zone mode, where three opposing mercenary squads compete to secure tactical zones and earn in-game currency. This cash can be spent or used to unlock vehicles, weapons, and other gear, contributing to a wider progression system. Players can accumulate currency by engaging in combat or carrying out supportive actions—like piloting helicopters to transport other players.
Bulkhead anticipates the early access period to last for roughly 24 months. During this stage, the team is focused on evolving the game based on community responses, with updates centered around game performance, stability, balance, and bug fixes. Direct player feedback will be essential in steering development ahead of launch.
Community Relations and Ongoing Communication
Since the project’s inception, Bulkhead has prioritized transparency, keeping players informed with routine developer updates and public test sessions. They have proactively addressed concerns—ranging from tuning visuals for maximum performance to seeking the ideal player count per match—while stating that their design direction may not align with everyone’s tastes.
Continuing this ethos, the studio has just launched a pre-order trailer titled “10 Reasons NOT to Buy,” which spells out what prospective players can—and cannot—expect from the early access version. The trailer is viewable here: WARDOGS | 10 Reasons NOT to Buy , and is also available on YouTube.
Interest in Wardogs has been steadily gaining traction through frequent updates and several closed tests, with over 800,000 Wishlists on Steam to date.
With early access around the corner, Bulkhead is relying on a transparent approach and close interaction with players to help shape Wardogs as it heads toward its full-scale launch.