Bulkhead’s WARDOGS entered early access on PC just hours ago, but it’s already proven a massive hit, selling more than one million copies. According to SteamDB, it peaked at 337,157 concurrent players; even after dipping below that, it’s currently the third most-played game on Steam, behind Counter-Strike 2 and Dota 2.
Studio CEO Joe Brammer told IGN that, “To cross a million copies sold as we launch into early access is mental. We’ve spent the last few months showing people exactly what WARDOGS is, what it isn’t, and at one point literally gave everyone ten reasons not to buy it. We didn’t want people buying into blind hype.
“So seeing more than one million people choose to jump in and play the game at early access launch means a huge amount to all of us. But this is still early access. We’ve got things to fix, things we want to improve, and a lot more we want to build. The best thing players can do now is keep playing, keep telling us what they think and keep giving us those ridiculous WARDOGS moments.”
If you missed its closed beta (and very brief open beta) tests, WARDOGS is a 100-player first-person tactical multiplayer shooter. As one of three teams, your objective is to build a forward operating base or FOB and capture an objective. This may sound straightforward, but it’s far more complex than in Battlefield 6 or Call of Duty, since you requisition materials to reinforce the FOB and turn it into a venerable fortress.
That includes building turrets, S.A.M. launchers for helicopters (with players taking dedicated roles to ferry teams and materials to objectives) and drills to speed up progress. Earning kills and assists, reviving allies, and building fortifications earns money, which you can spend on improved weapons, armor, bullets, and more.
WARDOGS is currently only available for PC, with a full release planned for one to two years down the line. It’s also coming to Xbox Series X/S and PS5 in 2028. User reviews are “Mixed” right now, mostly owing to long-time queue times (no doubt because servers are being hammered), so stay tuned for updates.
