WARDOGS Season 3 starts on Thursday, November 12, 2026, after a maintenance window from 13:00 to 15:00 UTC (8:00 to 10:00 AM EST), BULKHEAD said in its Season 03 patch notes on Steam on November 11. The studio estimates roughly two hours of downtime before the season goes live, with a Steam update for WARDOGS.
When Servers Go Down and What Resets
- Downtime: November 12, 8:00 to 10:00 AM EST (5:00 to 7:00 AM PST). Let Steam finish the update before you queue.
- The wipe: the notes do not restate the reset rules. Under BULKHEAD’s season rules, cash and XP progression reset and leftover cash becomes Gold Bars, which stay on your account with your cosmetics. Our season wipe guide has the details.
- A slower climb: each level needs more XP, closer to Season 1’s pace, and the season runs about three months, to January 28, 2027.
- Catch-up help: low-level players get an XP bonus and vendor discount that grow week by week, per role.
Limited Mode and Sabatulo
Limited Mode caps the vendor at gear typically available early to mid season. BULKHEAD’s examples: no Hollow Point or Armor Piercing ammo, no Level 3 or 4 armor, no attack vehicles, no CIWS, Stingray, MG Nest or Drill Rig, and no anti-tank mines. Pick it in the redesigned Deployment Select or filter the server browser for Limited servers. Cash and progression earned there carry over to the other modes.
Sabatulo, the first city map, brings a hospital, swimming pool, power station and high-rises built for close-quarters fights.
The Biggest Balance Changes
- The Infrared Range Finder leaves the vendor until BULKHEAD redesigns it.
- Assault rifle torso damage returns to Season 1 values, LMGs match it, and every DMR now kills an unarmored player in two body shots (was three).
- Tanks move to Driver levels 35 to 50 (were 20 to 35) and WARDOG level 200 (was 145). The Large Hammer moves to Support 14 (was 8); the Molotov drops to Assault 8 (was 13).
- The Wager Vendor is gone, Basic and Sport Parachutes rise to $1,250 and $2,250, and destroying enemy emplacements pays double.
- Using NVIDIA Inspector to strip smoke or grass is now bannable, and the game blocks play with a launch warning until those settings are undone.
What This Means for Players
Armor, backpacks, tactical vests and parachutes now unlock from every role track, so level the role you enjoy. Our progression tracks guide explains how each track earns XP, and our tank unlock guide covers the Driver grind. With rifles and DMRs hitting harder, revisit our best guns guide.
The price also rises by $5 at the end of Season 3 for anyone buying Early Access after that (the Standard Edition is $39.99 on the US Steam store today). Current owners pay nothing extra.
Source: BULKHEAD on Steam, November 11, 2026.