The game has peaked at more than 300,000 players as well.
WARDOGS is shaping up to be one of gaming's biggest surprise hits. The 100-player tactical military sim FPS has proven popular among players, with developer Bulkhead sharing on X (formerly Twitter) that the game sold 1.25 million copies in less than 24 hours following its Early Access launch.
“To cross a million copies sold as we launch into early access is mental,” Bulkhead CEO Joe Brammer said in a report published by IGN. Brammer said the studio had spent the past few months showing players exactly what WARDOGS was, and what it was not, rather than letting the game ride on hype alone. At one point, the team even published “ten reasons not to buy it”.
While more than one million players choosing to jump in at launch meant a lot to the team, Brammer stressed that WARDOGS is still in Early Access, with issues to fix, improvements to make, and plenty more to build.
WARDOGS
Release date: 10 September 2026 (Early Access)
Platform: PC (via Steam), consoles (in 2028)
Developer: Bulkhead
WARDOGS launch server issues caused queues and multiple restarts
That popularity quickly put WARDOGS' servers under pressure. According to SteamDB, the game peaked at 340,171 concurrent players, with the sheer number of players trying to get in resulting in long queues and eventually forcing the servers offline for a couple of hours.
“We are restarting servers to go clean slate. Players in servers will be logged out,” the developers said, explaining that the problem had not appeared during the previous beta. Bulkhead added that it was working to get as many players back into the game as possible.
A series of server restarts followed, before the developers released a launch hotfix around an hour later to address several of the issues.
The servers eventually stabilised after a couple of hours, while Brammer remained active on social media throughout the disruption and gave players updates on what was happening behind the scenes.
"Ideally we'd be on a triple-A tier for some of this stuff, but we're not,” he said in a video message, adding that the team was already talking to its partners to get the situation sorted.
Brammer later shared a photo of the team's monitor showing players making their way through the queue, explaining that they were being let in through waves.
“I gotta take the L on this one guys, we’ve got it but it’s on me here. This is why we release on a Thursday,” he said.
By his next update, the queue had dropped to zero. “It’s on me tonight, I dropped the ball a few times here but it’s live, it’s playable, go have fun,” Brammer said, before thanking players and saying the team was finally going to get some sleep.
What are players saying about WARDOGS?
WARDOGS' Steam rating also began recovering once the server problems were brought under control, rising from Mixed to Mostly Positive with 70% positive reviews as of the time of writing. Players have compared its mix of large-scale battles and tactical mechanics to games including Battlefield, Escape from Tarkov, and Arena Breakout Infinite.
“It's like Arena Breakout Infinite and Battlefield 6 had a baby,” Steam user Tuggawoo said. They also praised the developers' communication during launch and gave the game a 10/10 recommendation.
“Awesome game. Combat is tense, great mechanics and gunplay,” Steam user Hyphii said, adding that the game rewards different playstyles as well as team cohesion. Several other players also updated their reviews to positive after the server issues were resolved.
What is WARDOGS?
WARDOGS is an All-Out Warfare FPS currently available in Early Access. According to its description on Steam, the game combines tactical gunplay and combined-arms combat with building and destruction mechanics in a militaristic sandbox supporting up to 100 players.
Its main mode takes inspiration from King of the Hill, splitting players into three teams competing for control of randomly selected 2x2km Control Zones within larger maps. Teams earn points based on how many of their players occupy the zone, with the first to reach 100 points winning the match.
Changing zone locations and different player tactics are designed to make each match play out differently, while vehicles, logistics systems, support-focused gameplay, and proximity voice chat add more options beyond traditional infantry combat.
How long will WARDOGS stay in Early Access?
Bulkhead currently expects WARDOGS to remain in Early Access for around one to two years, although the exact timeframe could change depending on development and player feedback.
The studio said Early Access allows it to get a fully playable version of WARDOGS into players' hands while continuing to adjust its balance, pacing, progression, and features alongside the community. Players will also be able to communicate with the developers through Discord, X, and YouTube.
The current Early Access build already includes WARDOGS' core 100-player, three-team experience, large-scale maps with dynamic objective zones, Cash and XP-based progression, vehicles, logistics, support gameplay, and realistic gunplay designed around gameplay rather than pure simulation. Bulkhead plans to expand the game with more maps, weapons, vehicles, and gameplay variety, while also developing deeper progression systems and a stronger seasonal metagame.
Future additions are also planned to include new vehicle types such as fighter jets, expanded weapon categories, additional objective variations, and more systems designed to reward players for their contributions through combat, support, or logistics. Throughout Early Access, the developer said improving balance, performance, and stability will remain a priority, with the full version intended to offer a broader and more polished experience than the current release.
WARDOGS is also coming to consoles in 2028.
