WARDOGS Price Increase Confirmed: $49.99, Then $59.99

A WARDOGS price increase is confirmed: Bulkhead CEO Joe Brammer told GamesRadar+ the tactical shooter will rise to $49.99 around the 12-month mark, when it's expected to hit version 0.5, then $59.99 a year after that. It's $39.99 today.

Key Takeaways

• WARDOGS price rises from $39.99 to $49.99 around version 0.5 (roughly 12 months out), then to $59.99 a year later
• Bulkhead CEO Joe Brammer says the current price is a reward for buying early, not a bait-and-switch
• Season 2 starts October 15 with a new rain weather preset and a full Cash/XP progression reset
• Gold Bars and cosmetics survive the Season 2 reset; only Cash and levels wipe
• The game has sold over 2 million copies since its early September Early Access launch

What Happened

Brammer told GamesRadar+ that WARDOGS' price will scale with how much content the game has, framing the current $39.99 as the cheapest it will ever be. "We just think it's fair to scale the price as the game becomes bigger and bigger and bigger," he said, adding that players uncomfortable with the plan should simply wait: "If you don't want to get in now, wait for there to be more content, more stuff, buy it later." On why the increase is necessary at all, Brammer said: "We believe that our price needs to go up to make this game sustainable. Otherwise, how can we support the game long term? It is a big FPS game that costs money to make."

The pricing news landed the same week Bulkhead confirmed Season 2 for October 15 via its official Steam and X accounts. The update adds a new rain weather preset, though the studio clarified through those same channels that weather is set per map, not something that starts raining mid-match. Season 2 also resets Cash and character levels: any unspent Cash converts to Gold Bars first, and Gold Bars plus anything bought with them carry over untouched.

GODEEPER: Season 2's reset means starting loadouts and unlocks reset too. Our money and loadout guide covers how the current economy works while it still counts. WARDOGS Money and Loadout Guide →

Why It Matters

A scheduled price hike this early in Early Access is unusual, and Bulkhead knows it: Brammer acknowledged in the same interview that raising the price before 1.0 could frustrate players. The studio is betting that WARDOGS' launch numbers, over 2 million copies sold in its opening weekend (a launch our queue crisis coverage tracked in real time) and continued placement on Steam's weekly top-sellers chart, give it room to make that bet. Whether the community treats the increase as a fair reward for early buyers or an unwelcome surprise will likely shape how Season 2's progression reset lands too, since both changes hit the same players in the same month. Players already deep into a FOB or class build will feel the Cash and XP wipe more than newcomers who buy in fresh.

GODEEPER: New to WARDOGS and trying to decide if now (before the price rises) is the right time to buy in? Our beginner guide covers the basics, and our maps guide breaks down where you'll actually be fighting. WARDOGS Beginner Guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much will WARDOGS cost after the price increase? $49.99 around 12 months from now, when the game is expected to reach version 0.5, then $59.99 a year after that. It's currently $39.99 on Steam.

Why is Bulkhead raising the price of WARDOGS? CEO Joe Brammer says the price should scale with how much content the game has. He told GamesRadar+ the current $39.99 is a reward for buying early, and players who disagree can wait and pay more later.

When does WARDOGS Season 2 start? October 15, 2026, confirmed via Bulkhead's official Steam and X posts. It adds a rain weather preset and resets Cash and XP progression, though Gold Bars and cosmetics carry over.

Will WARDOGS Season 2 rain affect gameplay mid-match? No. Bulkhead confirmed rain is a per-map weather preset, not a dynamic event that starts mid-match. Whether it changes visibility or vehicle handling hasn't been detailed yet.

Is WARDOGS still selling well ahead of the price increase? Yes. The game sold over 2 million copies in its opening weekend and has stayed among Steam's top sellers through September, per Bulkhead's own comments and SteamDB's weekly top-sellers list.

References

• Wardogs price will increase throughout Steam early access, and "if you don't agree with that, please don't buy it," CEO says (GamesRadar+)
• WARDOGS Developer Confirms Season 2 Rain Won't Change Mid-Match (Vice)
• WARDOGS on Steam
• WARDOGS | Season 02 Teaser (Steam News)

For the full picture on WARDOGS ahead of the price change, see our complete guide hub, classes and progression guide, and vehicles guide.