WARDOGS squads have no size cap: Bulkhead's official FAQ answers the squad size question with "Unlimited", and squads form inside one of three teams in matches of up to 100 players. The fastest way to find a squad that plays the objective is to read the new Squad Intent shown in the squad list since Season 02, join an open squad whose intent matches yours, and keep the people who actually go to the Control Zone. With 148,977 players online on Steam when we checked, there are plenty of squads to try.
We checked the Steam store page, Bulkhead's Steam news posts and public player counts on October 22, 2026. Press figures are labelled as reported, and when something is not announced, we say so.
Quick facts
| Topic | What we found |
|---|---|
| Developer | Bulkhead, published by Team17 |
| Platform | PC (Windows) on Steam, consoles announced for 2028 |
| Early access since | September 10, 2026 |
| Price | $39.99 on Steam (US), Supporter Edition also sold |
| Match size | Up to 100 players, three teams |
| Squad size | Unlimited, per Bulkhead's FAQ |
| Mode | King of the Hill style fight for a 2x2 km Control Zone, first to 100 |
| Voice | Proximity voice chat plus a squad channel |
| Current season | Season 02, live since October 15, 2026 |
| Players online | 148,977 on Steam, October 22, 2026, 16:19 UTC |
What WARDOGS is
WARDOGS is an all-out warfare FPS by Bulkhead, and the studio says its design team worked with the creators of the original ARMA King of the Hill mod. Three factions, Lonestar, Valkyra and Manticore, fight over a randomised 2x2 km Control Zone inside a much larger map. The team with the most players in the zone earns points, and the first team to 100 points wins. A shifting Hot Zone inside it counts each player double and pays double cash.
Every player starts with $10,000 and buys a loadout each life: weapons, gear, buildables and vehicles. Cash persists between matches, and teamplay actions such as reviving, transporting friendlies or holding the objective pay out. That is why squads matter: winning zones pays more than farming kills on a hill.
It is also big. Bulkhead said the game passed 400,000 peak concurrent users on September 12, 2026, and SteamDB recorded an all-time peak of 428,666 on September 13, as reported by Upcomer. Bulkhead announced 3 million copies sold on September 26, 2026.
How squads and teams work
Pick a faction, then open the squad list from the pause menu to create a squad or join an open one. Game Rant describes three squad states: open, locked, or request to join, where the leader approves each request. The player who creates a squad becomes squad leader and controls its settings.
Squadding up gives you things a lone wolf does not get:
- a dedicated squad voice channel on top of proximity chat,
- pings, which only squadmates see (reported by Game Rant),
- extra UI and vehicle locking, per Bulkhead's FAQ,
- since Season 02, purchased vehicle inventories private to the driver and their squad by default.
Season 02 (Update 0.2.0, October 15, 2026) added Squad Intent: leaders pick an intent from a predefined list, and every player on the team sees it in the squad list before joining. It also added team switching limits once a team is more than 10 points ahead, so plan to join your friends' faction early rather than mid-match.
Roles in a squad
There are no fixed classes. Roles are player-defined: what you buy is what you are, and you earn XP across six progression tracks: Career, Medic, Recon, Support, Pilot and Driver.
| Role | What it does for the squad |
|---|---|
| Medic | Revives and keeps bodies in the zone, where points come from |
| Support | Hammers, walls and fortifications to hold the zone |
| Driver or Pilot | Moves the squad to the zone and resupplies it |
| Recon | Spots and picks targets from range |
| Rifleman | Holds the zone, the role every squad needs most |
A good objective squad has a transport, a medic and a builder. Bulkhead's Season 02 notes put it plainly: make sure you trust a pilot before getting into their aircraft.
How to find a squad that plays the objective
Friends
Agree on a faction before you load in, then have one person create a squad and lock it. Since squads have no cap, a whole friend group can share one squad.
In game
Read Squad Intent before you click Join and pick a squad whose intent matches how you want to play. In proximity chat at spawn, the squad talking about the zone is usually the one you want.
Server browser
The Deploy screen lets you choose Official, Community, Infantry Mode or Low-Level servers. Community servers often have regulars, a good way to meet the same squad again.
Discord
The official WARDOGS Discord and LFG servers help when you want a set group for an evening. Posts scroll away fast, so say your region, faction, role and that you play the zone. Our list of the best LFG Discord servers in 2026 shows where to post.
GameVerse
WARDOGS is not listed in GameVerse yet. GameVerse is a free desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux, with mobile coming soon. For the games it lists, it shows players online now on the same game, mode and region who want the same session type, chill or competitive, then lets you chat and open a lobby with voice. It does not match on rank, stats, role or schedule, and it does not verify anyone. You can browse the games it supports today on find players.
Tips for a squad that lasts
- Agree on intent first: zone push, logistics or a defensive build. Mixed intent splits squads.
- Bring a ride: walking to the zone wastes scoring time.
- Spend with the squad in mind: a medic bag or a truck often earns more than a better rifle.
- Join early: team switching limits make late moves to your friends' faction harder.
What is next in early access
Bulkhead expects around 1 to 2 years of early access, and the price may rise closer to full release. Planned additions on the Steam page include more maps, weapons and vehicles, new vehicle types such as fighter jets, deeper progression and a stronger seasonal meta game. The Wager Vendor is set to open later in Season 02. Consoles are announced for 2028. Cross-play has not been detailed, and no Season 03 date was announced when we checked.
FAQ
How many players are in a WARDOGS squad?
There is no fixed limit. Bulkhead's FAQ lists squad sizes as unlimited, so a squad can grow to most of a team in a match of up to 100 players.
How many players are in a WARDOGS match?
Up to 100, split across three teams that fight over one Control Zone.
Does WARDOGS have proximity chat?
Yes. Proximity voice chat is part of early access, and squads also get their own voice channel.
Is WARDOGS on PS5 or Xbox?
Not yet. WARDOGS is on PC through Steam early access, and Bulkhead has announced consoles for 2028.
How do I find a WARDOGS squad that plays the objective?
Check Squad Intent before joining, listen to proximity chat at spawn, and keep the players who go to the zone. Community servers and LFG Discord servers help you find them again.