WARDOGS is quickly becoming one of the biggest multiplayer FPS launches of 2026. Bulkhead’s tactical shooter entered Steam Early Access on September 10 and has already sold 1.25 million copies, while its player count has climbed into the hundreds of thousands.
The launch was initially troubled by server problems as a huge number of players attempted to access the game simultaneously. However, the situation has improved considerably, with WARDOGS attracting sustained interest and its Steam reception recovering from the mixed response seen during its first hours.
WARDOGS’ Player Count Continues to Rise
According to SteamDB, WARDOGS has now recorded a Steam peak of more than 428,000 concurrent players, placing the early-access shooter among the year’s biggest PC launches. Earlier tracking had already recorded peaks above 300,000 players, showing how quickly the game’s audience expanded after launch.
The milestone is particularly notable because WARDOGS is a new IP rather than an established franchise. Developed by British studio Bulkhead and published by Team17, the game puts 100 players across three teams into large-scale tactical battles where teams compete to control objectives on destructible battlefields.
Bulkhead also confirmed that WARDOGS sold 1.25 million copies within its first day, an impressive figure for an Early Access multiplayer game. The strong sales and player numbers suggest the shooter has already developed a substantial audience before reaching its eventual 1.0 release.
The game’s launch was not completely smooth. The sudden influx of players overwhelmed the servers, resulting in queues, connection problems and frustration that contributed to an early wave of negative Steam reviews. Bulkhead acknowledged the problems and worked on stabilizing the experience.
However, the game’s reception subsequently improved as the technical issues were addressed. Steam currently lists WARDOGS with a positive overall rating, although its Early Access status means performance, balance and content can continue changing as development progresses.
The combination of strong sales, a rapidly growing player base and improving reviews gives Bulkhead considerable momentum heading into the game’s continued Early Access development.
