When Is Wardogs Closed Beta 2 Starting (& How to Play It)

Wardogs is getting another shot at breaking its servers before Early Access, and developer Bulkhead has sprung the second closed beta on players a bit sooner than they’d originally planned. The announcement came just days after the first test wrapped up, which drew a huge crowd and gave the studio plenty of data to work with.

The studio has explained that they had originally planned to reveal Closed Beta 2 during The FPS Games Show on September 3. Instead, the studio has now given that particular surprise away early, while teasing that an even bigger announcement is still waiting for the showcase. Keep reading to find out when you can jump in and how to get access.

When Is Wardogs Closed Beta 2 Starting?

The second Wardogs Closed Beta begins on Thursday, September 3, at 2 PM EDT / 11 AM PDT, immediately after The FPS Games Show goes live. As per the current schedule, the test will run until Sunday, September 6 at 4 AM EDT / 1 AM PDT, giving you just under three days to get back into the fight if you’re eligible.

On that note, here’s when the second closed beta starts and ends in some of the major time zones around the globe:

That said, this second test isn’t simply another weekend for everyone to pile into Wardogs and try out what the game has to offer. Bulkhead is specifically using it as a “scale test,” with the studio looking to see how its servers and other systems hold up as more people join. Server scaling, browsing, Twitch Drops, DLC entitlements, VOIP, and the login queue are all on the list (via Steam).

That is also why this is not an open beta. Instead, the developer is planning to increase Steam Playtest access in waves, allowing the team to gradually put more pressure on the game. And if you want guaranteed access from the moment the test begins, there is one straightforward way to get it.

How To Play WARDOGS Closed Beta 2

Round two is coming fast. | Credits: BULKHEAD

The simplest way to guarantee your spot in the game’s upcoming beta is to pre-order Wardogs on Steam. Both the $39.99 Standard Edition and $49.99 Supporter Edition come with Closed Beta 2 access, so there is no reason to spend extra on the Supporter Edition just to get into the test.

If you don’t want to pre-order, head to the game’s Steam page and select Request Access for the Steam Playtest. Bulkhead is sending invites out in waves, so while this route can get you in without spending anything, there is no guarantee that your account will receive an invite before the beta starts, or during it, for that matter.

Once you’re in, that’s pretty much all there is to it. The second test is running on PC through Steam, and BULKHEAD is using the weekend to put more players into the game and see how its infrastructure handles the extra load. With Early Access arriving on September 10, this is also your last planned opportunity to play before the game officially moves into its next phase.

Wardogs already managed to pull quite the crowd for its first test, and now the studio gets to find out what happens when even more people start hammering the servers at once. If you are planning to jump in, which side of the beta are you taking: pre-ordering for guaranteed access or trying your luck by requesting access? Let us know in the comments below!