Wardogs Early Access Patch Notes Detail XP and Economy
Bulkhead has released the patch notes for the Wardogs early access launch, revealing significant changes to the game's XP progression, economy, and
Developer Bulkhead has detailed the first major patch for its upcoming military simulation FPS, Wardogs, just hours before the game's early access period begins. The patch, set to go live on September 10, 2026, at 4 pm UTC, focuses heavily on rebalancing the game's economy and progression systems alongside a suite of technical fixes.
According to the official notes published by TalkEsport, the adjustments are designed to shift the game away from its beta-test balancing. The developers stated their data led them to "slow levels down around 10 to 20, and flatten the curve from 35 onward." This means the median player, after 20 to 25 hours, will be around level 20, while the top 5% of players seeking high-end gear will face a longer grind.
Progression and Balance Changes
The core progression has been overhauled. Key items like the Artillery Tank have been moved to Career level 90, and the Heavy Tank has been shifted to Driver level 35. The developers reworked the Driver track to provide a "satisfying escalation through attack vehicles." Vendor prices for the Forward Operating Base and Large Hammer have also been increased to make them more meaningful purchases.
Specific XP requirements have been increased across nearly all levels above 6, with the most significant slowdowns occurring between levels 15 and 25. The changes are outlined in the table below.
| Level | Old XP Required | New XP Required | Slowdown Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below 6 | Unchanged | Unchanged | - |
| 6 | 8,750 | 9,250 | 5.7% |
| 10 | 25,000 | 35,000 | 40.0% |
| 15 | 54,750 | 110,000 | 100.9% |
| 20 | 111,500 | 250,000 | 124.2% |
| 25 | 192,000 | 325,000 | 69.3% |
| 30 | 293,750 | 400,000 | 36.2% |
| 35 | 416,500 | 500,000 | 20.0% |
| 40 | 551,250 | 650,000 | 17.9% |
| 45 | 689,500 | 800,000 | 16.0% |
| 50 | 838,000 | 1,000,000 | 19.3% |
Economy and Item Pricing
A sweeping set of economy changes adjusts vendor prices and role-specific unlocks. The goal is to prevent abuse of low-value items and rebalance the cost of equipment. Notable changes include a major price hike for the Forward Operating Base from $2,500 to $7,500 and the Large Hammer from $1,600 to $2,400. Several vehicle and weapon prices have also been adjusted, with some costs increasing and others decreasing.
XP rewards for certain actions have been tweaked. A player kill using an air vehicle now grants 250 XP, down from 300. Selling a supply crate item for under $75 now yields a mere 1 XP, a drastic reduction from 25.
Technical Improvements and Fixes
The patch addresses a wide range of technical issues. Exploits, such as one allowing players to reach an unintended spot on a church roof, have been fixed. The reporting system has been updated with a new tracking feature and weighted reports to reduce the impact of bad-faith reporters.
Voice chat reliability has been improved, with fixes for audio cutting out and enhancements for performance under load. The server browser has been reworked, and several crash issues related to frame generation, network calls, and specific in-game actions have been resolved. Performance gains have been clawed back by ensuring dropped items no longer affect navigation.
Vehicle handling sees adjustments too. The Z20 Lakota helicopter received a balance pass and a fix for sluggish pitch control. Vehicle turrets now have a maximum operator rotation speed, and certain deployables like the 155mm cannon take up more room in a player's loadout.
Season 1.0 Unlock Adjustments
Multiple items have had their unlock levels shifted across different roles for the game's first season. In the Career track, the Deagle moves from level 90 to 85, while the Artillery Tank jumps from level 55 to 90. The Medic's PP-19 50-round drum magazine is now available at level 29 instead of 33. Driver role unlocks see several vehicles, like the Dune Buggy and Kodiak Flatbed, moved to different levels to smooth the progression curve. The Music Tape H has been moved from the Pilot track to the Driver track at level 23.
