No—the September WARDOGS beta is over. BULKHEAD opened the second beta on September 5 and said it would run until Sunday at 08:00 UTC. The next confirmed public access point is Steam Early Access, scheduled for September 10, 2026.
WARDOGS dates at a glance
| Date | Official status |
|---|---|
| August 21–23, 2026 | Closed Beta period; ended |
| September 3–6, 2026 | Closed Beta 2 access period for preorders and invited Playtest players |
| September 5–7, 2026 | BULKHEAD opened the beta to wider players; it ended Sunday at 08:00 UTC |
| September 10, 2026 | Steam Early Access launch remains scheduled |
Can you still play the WARDOGS beta?
No. The originally announced September 3–6 Closed Beta 2 was followed by a September 5 official post saying the test was now an open beta and would end on Sunday at 08:00 UTC. That window has passed.
A Steam Playtest request can still express interest in future testing, but the official sources checked here do not confirm another beta date, an automatic invite, or continued access after the September test ended.
What did preorder beta access mean?
The official preorder offer said that a WARDOGS preorder guaranteed access to Closed Beta 2 during its stated time window. That entitlement applied to the test; it was not a promise of perpetual beta access or a guarantee of entry to every future Playtest.
The store also advises uncertain players to watch real player impressions and BULKHEAD's “10 Reasons NOT to Buy WARDOGS” video before preordering. Treat a preorder as a choice to buy an Early Access game, not as a substitute for checking whether it suits you.
What is confirmed—and what is not?
- The August beta, Closed Beta 2, and the later open-beta window have ended.
- Preorders guaranteed test access only during the stated test period.
- Steam Early Access is still listed for September 10, 2026.
- No official source checked here confirms another beta date, a launch patch list, performance result, or specific beta issue fixed for launch.
Does the Playtest button still give access?
Not to the finished September beta. During Closed Beta 2, the official wording separated guaranteed preorder access from wider Playtest access handed out in waves. The later open-beta post shows that access expanded before the test ended, but it did not announce a continuing test or a next beta.
Request access if you want Steam to consider you for a future test, then rely on Steam's notification rather than community estimates. Beta videos can show that test build, not prove launch-day balance or performance.
What is confirmed for September 10?
WARDOGS is scheduled to enter Steam Early Access on Windows PC. The official listing describes a 100-player, three-team online FPS with dynamic Control Zones, cash and XP progression, vehicles, logistics, construction, destruction and proximity voice chat.
Early Access is expected to last roughly one to two years, but the developer says that timing can change. Console launch dates and another pre-launch test are not confirmed by the official sources checked for this article.
What should you do next?
- Do not buy for a concluded beta. The September test is over.
- Request Playtest access only if you want to be considered for a future unannounced test.
- Use beta footage cautiously. It shows a pre-release build; balance and performance may change.
- Check the Steam listing on September 10 for the Early Access launch status and any new official notes.
Bottom line
Both the August beta and the September beta are over. The latter expanded into an open beta before ending on Sunday at 08:00 UTC. There is no confirmed new beta date in the official sources checked here; September 10 remains the scheduled Steam Early Access launch, while detailed beta-to-launch fixes remain unannounced.