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Wardogs 2026
Wardogs is an upcoming first-person shooter video game that will be played in multiplayer mode. It is being developed by Bulkhead and published by Team17. The game entered closed beta on 22 August 2026 and went into early access for Windows on 10 September 2026. PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and Series S versions are set to release in 2028.
The game draws inspiration from the "King of the Hill" custom gamemode mod for Arma 3. Players take part in battles across a randomly selected control zone located in the Caucasus region of Eastern Europe. The conflict involves three mercenary factions fighting over this area. Wardogs features a quasi-virtual economy where players earn in-game cash and must manage their funds to buy equipment and vehicles. This system considers affordability, risk of losing gear, and overall profit margins. Importantly, there are no microtransactions such as an item shop or battle pass.
Development of Wardogs lasted several years. Initially, it was pitched to Tencent with a budget ranging from £10 million to £12 million. However, disagreements between Bulkhead and Tencent resulted in Bulkhead joining Team17 instead. The game was first announced in February 2026. While still under active development, each season includes progression wipes and experimental changes to test new features and player behavior.
Upon entering early access, Wardogs received positive reviews from both testers and critics. It became financially successful during this phase, selling 2 million copies within a week of launch. At its peak, over 400,000 players were online simultaneously, generating approximately £52.2 million in revenue. The game was also nominated for "Best Early Access Game" at the 2026 Golden Joystick Awards, though winners have yet to be announced.
Crew
- Designer
- Mark Pinney
- Producer
- Joe Brammer, Kane Allard
Details
- Developer
- Bulkhead
- Publisher
- Team17
- Platforms
- Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
- Modes
- Multiplayer
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
