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Status checked against the Season 03 patch notes of 11 November 2026 and the store listing on 2026-11-12.
Quick answer
Three numbers and one date matter:
- $39.99 is the current Early Access price.
- $44.99 is the price from 28 January 2027.
- $5 is the difference.
- 28 January 2027 is the day Season 03 ends.
The same section of the patch notes states that players who already own the game do not pay the difference. That makes the date a deadline for new buyers, not a bill for existing ones.
The numbers in one place
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Current price | $39.99 |
| Price from 28 January 2027 | $44.99 |
| Increase | $5 |
| Existing owners | No extra payment |
| Season length | Roughly three months |
| Next flagged increase | Around September 2027, no amount given |
Season length is part of the same announcement. A season of about three months starting on 12 November 2026 lands near the middle of February 2027, which is why the price change is tied to the season ending rather than to an arbitrary date.
Why the date is 28 January
The patch notes pair the increase with the end of Season 03. That is a scheduling decision, not a comment on the game's value. Two things follow:
- The deadline is fixed and published. Anyone waiting for a discount before buying is now working against a known date.
- The deadline is not the 1.0 release. 1.0 is described separately as a 2027 milestone. Nothing says the price change and 1.0 happen together.
What "existing owners" covers
The statement is that players who already own the game do not pay the difference. That is the whole of it. It does not describe gifts, second accounts, family sharing, refunds or region changes, and this page does not extend it to cover those cases.
If you are buying for someone else, buy before the date or accept the higher price. If you already own the game, the change does not affect you.
The September 2027 signal
The notes also indicate a further increase around September 2027, which is the Early Access anniversary. No amount is published.
Treat this as a direction, not a price. A reader who plans around "another rise later" is on solid ground. A reader who plans around "it will be $49.99" is inventing a number. The same applies to the 1.0 price: nothing published says what the game costs at 1.0.
Making the decision
The arithmetic is simple. Waiting costs $5 if you buy after 28 January 2027 and nothing if you buy before. The question is whether the current build is worth $39.99 to you now, and that is a judgement about the game, not about the price table.
Two honest positions:
- Buy before the date if you intend to play during the current season and the $5 matters to you.
- Wait if you are not going to play soon. Paying $5 more later for a game you would not have touched is not a saving, it is a delay with a fee.
A separate community argument about whether the game is worth its regional price is exactly that — a community argument. It is covered on the December break page and is not an official position.
What the official notes do not say
- No regional pricing in any currency.
- No discount, sale or coupon plan around the change.
- No amount for the September 2027 increase.
- No statement that 1.0 carries a different price.
- No refund or price-protection policy for purchases made just before the date.
- No promise that this is the last increase.
Related guides
Sources
Each source has its own check date. A page update does not recheck every fact; older game builds and server notices may no longer apply.
- Official WARDOGS Steam news feed, including the pricing and season-length section of the Season 03 Patch Notes (11 November 2026)
Official · Source checked
- Official WARDOGS store page (current Early Access price)
Official · Source checked
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the WARDOGS price increase happen?
On 28 January 2027, the day Season 03 ends. The Early Access price moves from $39.99 to $44.99, a rise of $5. Both figures come from the Season 03 patch notes.
Do current owners have to pay the difference?
No. The notes state that players who already own the game do not pay the difference. The new price applies to purchases made from 28 January 2027 onward.
Is there another increase after that?
The notes point to a further increase around September 2027, the Early Access anniversary. No amount is given for that one, so treat it as a flagged direction rather than a known price.
Will the game cost more at 1.0?
Not stated. 1.0 is named as the next content milestone in 2027, and the price change is tied to the end of Season 03, not to 1.0. Do not assume the two dates coincide.