WarDogs is an All-Out Warfare FPS that combines tactical gunplay and combined arms combat with building and destruction mechanics in a large-scale, up to 100-player militaristic sandbox.

The game mode - Inspired by ‘King of the Hill’ - has three teams fight for control of a randomized 2x2km ‘Control Zone’ within a 256km² map. The team with the most players within the Control Zone earns points - the first team to reach 100 points wins the match. The variables in zone location and individual player tactics mean no match ever plays out the same.

Every player starts their journey with $10,000. Each life, you purchase a custom loadout from a wide selection of weapons, gear, utility, and vehicles to help your team win the match. Every teamplay action you perform rewards cash. From reviving squadmates, transporting friendlies to the zone, or controlling the objective. We don’t just encourage teamplay; we reward it. It’s the player’s choice how they want to play, earn and spend their profits. Cash persists from match to match, so spending big on better gear, equipment, or a vehicle at the right time has the potential to turn the tide of battle and could yield massive returns.

There’s no one way to play, earn and progress. Instead, WarDogs gives players the freedom to take on the Control Zone in any number of ways. Whether you’re a lone wolf helping out your team or part of a dedicated squad, how you approach the battlefield is entirely up to you.

You could chase the 'Hot Zone' to earn double the cash, purchase a ghillie suit and snipe from a distance, or ferry supplies to teammates by helicopter. Additionally, you could choose to fortify a strategic chokepoint by building your own forward operating base, or if you're feeling destructive... man an artillery tank and rain down destruction on the enemy.

Bulkhead and Team17 have announced that WarDogs will launch into Steam Early Access  on September 10, 2026, with pre-orders available on Steam now.

Every player who pre-orders WarDogs will receive guaranteed access to the upcoming Closed Beta Weekend, taking place from 21–23 August. The beta will give players the opportunity to experience the game ahead of its Early Access launch and put its large-scale warfare, servers and core systems through their paces.

To mark the announcement, Bulkhead has also released a candid new video outlining 10 reasons NOT to buy WarDogs, covering everything from Early Access content, pricing and performance to monetisation, controller support and the high-stakes consequences of every decision players make in-game.

At Early Access launch, players will fight across three maps, each featuring three different variations, alongside a mix of infantry and vehicle combat. Local voice chat can also be heard across all three teams, creating unpredictable encounters between allies and enemies throughout each match.

“Taking pre-orders for an Early Access game is unusual, and we know some people will question it,” said Joe Brammer, CEO at Bulkhead. “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.” 

“WarDogs is ambitious, rough around the edges and still has a long way to go, but that is exactly what Early Access should be. We are putting the game in players’ hands, listening to what they tell us and taking the risks needed to turn it into something that can last.” 

WarDogs will enter Early Access at $39.99 USD. Rather than charging the planned full-release price before every major feature has been delivered, Bulkhead is introducing a stepped pricing model designed to reward players who support the game earlier in development.

During Early Access, the development team will prioritise stability, performance, balancing, bug fixes and the most important points raised by the community. Bulkhead will also continue working towards the wider meta game and long-term systems planned for the full 1.0 release.

The studio has committed to having no in-game monetisation during Early Access, with the sole exception of an optional Supporters Edition containing cosmetic items for players who want to show additional support for the project. In-game cash, gold bars and status-based camouflage will not be available for purchase.

The Closed Beta Weekend begins on August 21 and concludes on August 23. Access is guaranteed with every Steam pre-order.

There are no set rules of engagement. It’s ultimately your choice how you want to approach the battlefield. Destroy apartment blocks with rocket launchers or tear your way through towns in heavily armoured tanks. The world around you reacts to your presence. Conversely, strategize with your teammates to build upon and fortify key locations within the map for a tactical advantage.

Every Moment in WarDogs is 100% Player Driven and tied together with local voice chat to either talk tactics with teammates or troll enemy players. This is not another ‘Battle Royale’. This is not another ‘Extraction Shooter’. WARDOGS is a new Tactical take on the All-Out Warfare FPS genre that rewards decision making, communication and teamwork – and allows you to play how you want within a modern militaristic setting.

WarDogs is in development for PC (Steam).