Nerf Radar › WARDOGS › 2026-09-09
WARDOGS: Pre-Load Live & Season 1 Changelog (Sep 9, 2026): what changed
Adjust 53New 1Removed 1Fix 7
TL;DRThis is the launch changelog for WARDOGS Season 1, posted as the pre-load went live. It slows leveling sharply between levels 10 and 20, raises many prices (the Forward Operating Base vendor goes from $2,500 to $7,500), moves Artillery to Career level 90 and the Heavy Tank to the Driver track, and adds a report tracking system plus a batch of crash, voice chat and vehicle fixes.
Who this matters to
Progression grinders
Levels 10 to 20 take much longer (level 20 needs 250,000 XP instead of 111,500), and BULKHEAD expects median players to be around level 20 after 20 to 25 hours.
Vehicle players
The Z20 Lakota gets a balance pass, vehicle turrets get a maximum rotation speed, several Driver unlocks come earlier, and the Heavy Tank moves to Driver level 35.
Everyone
Voice chat no longer cuts out permanently after a failed join, several crashes are fixed, and DLSS Frame Generation can be turned off without restarting.
All 62 changes
Church roof
Fix
Fixed an exploit that let players reach an unintended position on the church roof.
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Fixed an exploit that let players reach an unintended position on the church roof.
Reporting
New
Added a new report tracking system.
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Added a new report tracking system.
Adjust
Reports are now weighted so that repeat and bad-faith reporters carry less influence.
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Reports are now weighted so that repeat and bad faith reporters carry less influence.
Cheater bans
Adjust
Cheater bans are now announced in the server when match termination is turned off.
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Cheater bans are now announced in server when match termination is turned off.
Kicked from server message
Fix
The "kicked from server" message now only appears if you were actually banned.
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The kicked from server message now only appears if you were actually banned.
Server browser
History · 3 patches →Adjust
Server browser filtering is reworked.
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Reworked server browser filtering.
Fix
Fixed community server images scaling incorrectly.
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Fixed community server images scaling incorrectly.
Adjust
The Host a server button now links straight to the hosting page.
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The Host a server button now links straight to the hosting page.
Voice chat
Fix
Fixed voice chat cutting out permanently after a failed join; stale channel rejoins, push-to-talk targeting and re-login now all recover properly.
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Fixed voice cutting out permanently after a failed join. Stale channel rejoins, push to talk targeting and re-login all recover properly now.
Adjust
Voice chat is more reliable under load and now shows a visible communication status.
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Improved voice reliability under load, and added a visible communication status.
Z20 Lakota
Adjust
The Z20 Lakota gets a balance pass and a fix for sluggish pitch.
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Z20 Lakota balance pass, and a fix for sluggish pitch.
Helicopter
Adjust
Helicopter input damping now applies to every input device.
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Helicopter input damping now applies to every input device.
Vehicle turrets
Adjust
Vehicle turrets now have a maximum operator rotation speed.
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Vehicle turrets now have a maximum operator rotation speed.
Deployables
Adjust
155mm, 122mm and flare deployables now take up more room in your loadout.
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155mm, 122mm and flare deployables now take up more room in your loadout.
Tank aiming
Fix
Fixed a DPI issue affecting tank aiming.
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Fixed a DPI issue affecting tank aiming.
Z20 Lakota
Adjust
The Z20 Lakota's chase camera rotation rattle is 6 dB quieter.
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Brought the Z20 Lakota chase camera rotation rattle down by 6 dB.
DLSS Frame Generation
Adjust
DLSS Frame Generation can now be turned off without restarting, and the render target pool is configurable.
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DLSS Frame Generation can now be turned off without restarting, and the render target pool is configurable.
Performance
Adjust
Shadow cache refreshes are reduced, which cuts hitching when you take control of a character.
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Reduced shadow cache refreshes, which cuts hitching when you take control of a character.
Stability
History · 2 patches →Fix
Fixed two crash paths in the frame generation pipeline.
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Fixed two crash paths in the frame generation pipeline.
Adjust
GPU crash reports now carry more detail so BULKHEAD can act on them faster.
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GPU crash reports now carry more detail, so we can act on them faster.
Performance
Removed
Removed a legacy graphics dependency.
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Removed a legacy graphics dependency.
Shadow quality
Adjust
On high benchmark scores, shadow quality is now clamped to Low instead of being switched off entirely.
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Shadow quality is now clamped to Low on high benchmark scores rather than being switched off entirely.
Stability
History · 2 patches →Fix
Fixed crashes caused by network calls scheduled off the game thread, closing a chatbox entry tooltip, buildables, and firing a weapon whose owner had left.
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Fixed a crash caused by network calls scheduled off the game thread.
- Fixed a crash when closing a chatbox entry tooltip.
- Fixed a crash involving buildables.
- Fixed a crash when firing a weapon whose owner had left.
Performance
Adjust
Dropped items no longer affect navigation, which recovers a little performance.
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Dropped items no longer affect navigation, which claws back a little performance.
Startup
Adjust
Startup is more reliable, with clearer messages and a route to recovery when something fails early.
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Improved startup reliability, with clearer messages when something fails early and a route to recovery.
XP curve
Adjust
Leveling slows down from levels 10 to 20 and the curve flattens from 35 onward; BULKHEAD expects median players to reach about level 20 after 20 to 25 hours.
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Levels 10 to 20 slowed down, with the curve flattening from 35 onward.
- This means our median players, at 20 to 25 hours, will be around level 20, and those wanting the big ticket items, the top 5%, will need to grind.
Adjust
The role track XP curve is rebalanced from level 6 upward, from 5.7% slower at level 6 to 124.2% slower at level 20; levels below 6 are unchanged.
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Rebalanced the role track XP curve from level 6 upward. Level 6 moves from 8,750 to 9,250, roughly 5.7% slower, with a larger increase at level 10.
- Below level 6: unchanged.
- Level 6: 8,750 to 9,250, 5.7% slower.
- Level 10: 25,000 to 35,000, 40.0% slower.
- Level 15: 54,750 to 110,000, 100.9% slower.
- Level 20: 111,500 to 250,000, 124.2% slower.
- Level 25: 192,000 to 325,000, 69.3% slower.
- Level 30: 293,750 to 400,000, 36.2% slower.
- Level 35: 416,500 to 500,000, 20.0% slower.
- Level 40: 551,250 to 650,000, 17.9% slower.
- Level 45: 689,500 to 800,000, 16.0% slower.
- Level 50: 838,000 to 1,000,000, 19.3% slower.
XP events
Adjust
XP for a player kill using an air vehicle drops from 300 XP to 250 XP.
300 XP→250 XP
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Player kill using an air vehicle: 300 XP to 250 XP.
Adjust
XP for selling a supply crate item under $75 drops from 25 XP to 1 XP.
25 XP→1 XP
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Supply crate item sold under $75: 25 XP to 1 XP.
Supply crate
Adjust
The supply crate purchase curve is rescaled from 25 to 250 down to 1 to 200, so low-value items are priced sensibly and cannot be abused.
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Rescaled the supply crate purchase curve from 25 to 250 down to 1 to 200, so low value items are priced sensibly and cannot be abused.
Forward Operating Base
Adjust
The Forward Operating Base vendor price changes from $2,500 to $7,500.
$2,500→$7,500
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Vendor, Forward Operating Base: $2,500 to $7,500.
Large Hammer
Adjust
The Large Hammer vendor price changes from $1,600 to $2,400.
$1,600→$2,400
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Vendor, Large Hammer: $1,600 to $2,400.
Artillery Tank
Adjust
The Career track Artillery Tank price changes from $400,000 to $500,000.
$400,000→$500,000
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Career, Artillery Tank: $400,000 to $500,000.
6-10x MRAD scope
Adjust
The Recon track 6-10x MRAD scope price changes from $25,000 to $40,000.
$25,000→$40,000
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Recon, 6-10x MRAD scope: $25,000 to $40,000.
6-10x MOA scope
Adjust
The Recon track 6-10x MOA scope price changes from $30,000 to $45,000.
$30,000→$45,000
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Recon, 6-10x MOA scope: $30,000 to $45,000.
Medium Hammer
Adjust
The Support track Medium Hammer price changes from $10,000 to $25,000.
$10,000→$25,000
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Support, Medium Hammer: $10,000 to $25,000.
Large Hammer
Adjust
The Support track Large Hammer price changes from $25,000 to $75,000.
$25,000→$75,000
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Support, Large Hammer: $25,000 to $75,000.
Small armoured supply crate
Adjust
The Pilot track small armoured supply crate price changes from $5,000 to $10,000.
$5,000→$10,000
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Pilot, small armoured supply crate: $5,000 to $10,000.
Little Bird with miniguns
Adjust
The Pilot track Little Bird with miniguns price changes from $25,000 to $50,000.
$25,000→$50,000
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Pilot, Little Bird with miniguns: $25,000 to $50,000.
Z20 Lakota
Adjust
The Pilot track Z20 Lakota price changes from $50,000 to $35,000.
$50,000→$35,000
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Pilot, Z20 Lakota: $50,000 to $35,000.
URAL
Adjust
The Driver track URAL price changes from $50,000 to $35,000.
$50,000→$35,000
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Driver, URAL: $50,000 to $35,000.
Dune Buggy
Adjust
The Driver track Dune Buggy price changes from $35,000 to $25,000.
$35,000→$25,000
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Driver, Dune Buggy: $35,000 to $25,000.
Kodiak Flatbed
Adjust
The Driver track Kodiak Flatbed price changes from $15,000 to $35,000.
$15,000→$35,000
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Driver, Kodiak Flatbed: $15,000 to $35,000.
Music Tape H
Adjust
The Driver track Music Tape H price changes from $5,000 to $2,500.
$5,000→$2,500
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Driver, Music Tape H: $5,000 to $2,500.
Sports Parachute
Adjust
Sports Parachute now unlocks at Career level 35 instead of level 36.
Level 36→Level 35
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Sports Parachute: level 36 to level 35.
Large Backpack
Adjust
Large Backpack now unlocks at Career level 55 instead of level 56.
Level 56→Level 55
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Large Backpack: level 56 to level 55.
762x54mm AP
Adjust
762x54mm AP now unlocks at Career level 82 instead of level 83.
Level 83→Level 82
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762x54mm AP: level 83 to level 82.
556mm AP
Adjust
556mm AP now unlocks at Career level 83 instead of level 85.
Level 85→Level 83
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556mm AP: level 85 to level 83.
Deagle
Adjust
Deagle now unlocks at Career level 85 instead of level 90.
Level 90→Level 85
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Deagle: level 90 to level 85.
Artillery Tank
Adjust
Artillery Tank now unlocks at Career level 90 instead of level 55.
Level 55→Level 90
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Artillery Tank: level 55 to level 90.
PP-19 50 round drum magazine
Adjust
PP-19 50 round drum magazine now unlocks at Medic level 29 instead of level 33.
Level 33→Level 29
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PP-19 50 round drum magazine: level 33 to level 29.
Large Hammer
Adjust
Large Hammer now unlocks at Support level 8 instead of level 7.
Level 7→Level 8
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Large Hammer: level 7 to level 8.
URAL
Adjust
URAL now unlocks at Driver level 3 instead of level 4.
Level 4→Level 3
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URAL: level 4 to level 3.
Kodiak Assault
Adjust
Kodiak Assault now unlocks at Driver level 6 instead of level 8.
Level 8→Level 6
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Kodiak Assault: level 8 to level 6.
Dune Buggy
Adjust
Dune Buggy now unlocks at Driver level 8 instead of level 10.
Level 10→Level 8
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Dune Buggy: level 10 to level 8.
Kodiak Flatbed
Adjust
Kodiak Flatbed now unlocks at Driver level 10 instead of level 2.
Level 2→Level 10
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Kodiak Flatbed: level 2 to level 10.
Large Supply Crate
Adjust
Large Supply Crate now unlocks at Driver level 16 instead of level 20.
Level 20→Level 16
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Large Supply Crate: level 20 to level 16.
URAL Covered
Adjust
URAL Covered now unlocks at Driver level 18 instead of level 30.
Level 30→Level 18
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URAL Covered: level 30 to level 18.
Music Tape H
Adjust
Music Tape H moves from Pilot level 28 to Driver level 23.
Pilot level 28→Driver level 23
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Music Tape H: moves from Pilot level 28 to Driver level 23.
URAL Attack
Adjust
URAL Attack now unlocks at Driver level 25 instead of level 40.
Level 40→Level 25
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URAL Attack: level 40 to level 25.
Humvee with minigun
Adjust
Humvee with minigun now unlocks at Driver level 30 instead of level 35.
Level 35→Level 30
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Humvee with minigun: level 35 to level 30.
Heavy Tank
Adjust
The Heavy Tank moves from Career level 35 to Driver level 35.
Career level 35→Driver level 35
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Heavy Tank: moves from Career level 35 to Driver level 35.
Structured by Nerf Radar from the official notes (curated by hand). Curated by hand from the official Steam announcement (WARDOGS is in Early Access). The XP band table is grouped into one change with each line quoted; BULKHEAD's balance summary paragraph repeats items that are listed individually, so only the list items are included. Source: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1867240/view/1843481262690549 · fetched Oct 7, 2026.