Advertisement
Quick Answer — 2026-10-30
Season 3 is targeted for November 12, 2026. The date was named in a BULKHEAD developer reply on Steam on October 23 and restated in THE HOTZONE podcast episode 1 on October 24. As of October 30, no official Steam announcement, patch notes, maintenance window or complete Limited Mode rule set has been published. Treat November 12 as a target, not a fixed schedule.
The developers say Season 2's faster progression let some players reach Tier 4 armour and main battle tanks within days, so the wipe did not deliver the intended fresh start. Season 3 is being brought forward to reset that. The usual seasonal reset is expected to clear cash, XP and levels while Gold Bars and cosmetics persist, but the exact Season 3 retention matrix and Gold conversion rate are not re-confirmed.
Official BULKHEAD YouTube — THE HOTZONE EP1 · Steam developer reply thread · WARDOGS Season 2 guide · progression and wipes guide
What is confirmed for Season 3
- Target date: November 12, 2026. This comes from a BULKHEAD developer reply on Steam on October 23 and is repeated in THE HOTZONE podcast episode 1 on October 24. It is a stated target, not an official announcement.
- Reason for the earlier season: The developers acknowledge that Season 2's accelerated progression let some players reach Tier 4 armour and main battle tanks within days, and that this undermined the wipe. Season 3 is presented as a clean restart.
- Limited Mode is planned with Season 3: The developer reply and podcast connect the no-power-weapons, no-vehicles mode to Season 3. The mode was previously described as coming soon, but its launch is tied to the season rather than a separate date.
Everything else below the target date is either older policy or unconfirmed for Season 3. Do not upgrade a plan, a purchase or a squad schedule on an assumption that has not been published.
What is not confirmed yet
The following items are still open as of October 30. Each one changes how you should prepare, so check the official channels before acting:
- Official Steam announcement: No dated Season 3 announcement, teaser post or release note is published. The Steam announcement feed still ends at the Season 2 launch material.
- Patch notes: No Season 3 patch notes exist. Weapon, armour, vehicle and economy changes are unknown.
- Maintenance window: No start time, expected downtime or reopening time is published. Season 2 opened after an extended maintenance, so an exact window should not be assumed.
- Wipe moment: The precise moment the reset takes effect is not stated. Do not spend or transfer in-game value in the final hours on an assumed cutoff.
- Limited Mode rules: No complete item list, level cap, hosting controls or server list is published. The phrase "no power weapons and no vehicles" is a summary, not a full rule set.
- Season duration: No official Season 3 length is published.
The previously promised Season 3 preview vlog was described as arriving in the following week after October 23, but it had not appeared in the reviewed official channels as of October 30. Its release is the next likely step that would fill in the items above; until then, this page stays deliberately conservative.
The seasonal reset: what usually carries over
The published seasonal wipe policy says seasonal cash, XP progression and levels reset, while remaining cash converts to Gold Bars and Gold Bars plus cosmetics persist. Season 3 has not re-published that policy, so the following should be treated as the expected baseline, not a Season 3 guarantee:
| Item | Expected treatment | Status for Season 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Seasonal cash | Reset; remainder converted to Gold Bars | Policy from an earlier season; not re-confirmed |
| Seasonal XP and levels | Reset | Policy from an earlier season; not re-confirmed |
| Gold Bars | Persist | Previously stated; not re-confirmed |
| Cosmetics | Persist | Previously stated; not re-confirmed |
| Paid unlocks and individual items | Not fully specified | Unconfirmed |
| Gold conversion rate | Not published | Unconfirmed |
Historical seasonal XP has been described as banked for future Skills. That history does not carry the current level or role unlock gate into a new season, and Skills is not playable yet. Record your cash, Gold, owned cosmetics, Career level and each role level before the reset so you can compare what actually changed.
Limited Mode servers
Limited Mode was announced on October 16 as coming soon, with no power weapons and no vehicles. On October 17, Joe Brammer referred to "Primitive Servers (Name Pending!)" as a future option for players who want to avoid power weapons. The developer reply and podcast now tie the mode to Season 3.
What is not established: a launch server list, a complete restricted-item list, a level cap, hosting rules or whether the provisional name changes. Do not treat every infantry or low-level server as this mode. Check the actual server browser rules when the mode appears.
Season cadence: why the date moved
Earlier Season 2 planning referenced a roughly six-week target. The developers have since said the pace was too fast and that the accelerated progression was a mistake, which is why Season 3 is being brought forward rather than waiting for a longer cycle. No official Season 3 duration or long-term season rhythm is published, so any specific number of weeks you see elsewhere is unconfirmed.
THE HOTZONE podcast
THE HOTZONE is an official WARDOGS podcast. Episode 1, titled The Wipe, launched on October 24 and reviewed Season 2 while discussing Season 3 and Limited Mode. No second episode had been published in the reviewed channels as of October 30.
Podcast discussion is official commentary. It is useful for intent and reasoning, but it is not a patch note, a maintenance schedule or a release guarantee. When a podcast statement and a published announcement disagree, the announcement wins.
Media claims we do not treat as confirmed
Several aggregator and accelerator sites have reported Season 3 details as if they were official. The following claims were not supported by any reviewed official channel as of October 30 and should not be repeated as confirmed:
- A DDoS attack on Asian servers "confirmed by the developers": no matching statement was found on Steam, X, YouTube or Discord.
- A specific ghillie, infrared-scanner and suppressor combination "confirmed for Season 3 balance": the podcast describes the infrared rangefinder as an opinion, not a decision.
- Removal of blue cash or XP bonuses: this one is officially confirmed, but it belongs to the Season 2 backend change on October 15, not to a Season 3 announcement.
Treat media summaries as leads. Verify against the official Steam announcement feed or the WARDOGS X account before quoting them.
How to prepare before November 12
- Record your starting point. Note cash, Gold Bars, owned cosmetics, Career level and each role level so you can compare after the reset.
- Do not bet on an unconfirmed cutoff. No wipe moment is published; avoid last-minute spending or transfers based on an assumed time.
- Check the announcement feed first. A dated Steam post or patch note is the signal that the schedule is firm.
- Plan a first kit, not a full build. Pick one affordable loadout and one practice goal for the new season rather than committing to a meta you cannot verify yet.
- Wait for Limited Mode rules. Do not assume a server is Limited Mode until its browser rules say so.
Progression and wipes guide · What to buy before a wipe · Patch notes and update tracker · Roadmap
Sources and Last Checked
| Source | Last recorded check |
|---|---|
| Official BULKHEAD YouTube — THE HOTZONE EP1 | 2026-10-30 |
| Steam developer reply thread — Season 3 target | 2026-10-30 |
| Official Steam announcements feed — no Season 3 announcement | 2026-10-30 |
| Official WARDOGS X profile — freshness check | 2026-10-30 |
| Official backend and Limited Mode announcement | 2026-10-16 |
| Joe Brammer: Primitive Servers, name pending | 2026-10-18 |
Check dates apply separately to each source. A review date does not redate an announcement, and an announcement is not live-server telemetry. This page separates the stated target from published schedules and does not treat commentary as a release guarantee.
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 BULKHEAD YouTube — THE HOTZONE EP1
Official · Source checked
- Steam developer reply thread — Season 3 target
Official · Source checked
- Official Steam announcements feed — no Season 3 announcement
Official · Source checked
- Official WARDOGS X profile — freshness check
Official · Source checked
- Official backend and Limited Mode announcement
Official · Source checked
- Joe Brammer: Primitive Servers, name pending
Official · Source checked
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Season 3 date confirmed?
No. As of October 30, the reviewed primary sources show Season 3 targeted for November 12, 2026, named in a BULKHEAD developer Steam reply on October 23 and restated in THE HOTZONE podcast on October 24. No official Steam announcement, patch notes, maintenance window or complete Limited Mode rule set has been published, so treat November 12 as a target rather than a fixed schedule.
What happens to cash, XP and Gold Bars at the Season 3 reset?
The previously published wipe policy says seasonal cash, XP progression and levels reset, remaining cash converts to Gold Bars, and Gold Bars and cosmetics persist. Season 3 has not re-published that policy. The exact Gold conversion rate and the full retention matrix, including paid unlocks and individual items, are not re-confirmed for Season 3.
What is Limited Mode and is it live?
Limited Mode servers were described on October 16 as coming soon with no power weapons and no vehicles. On October 17, Joe Brammer referred to Primitive Servers as a future option for players who want to avoid power weapons. The developer reply and podcast tie the mode to Season 3, but no launch list, complete item restrictions, level cap or hosting controls are published, so it is not live yet.
Why did Season 3 move earlier?
The developers acknowledged that Season 2's accelerated progression let some players reach Tier 4 armour and main battle tanks within days, so the wipe did not land as intended. Bringing Season 3 forward is presented as a way to give everyone a fresh start. No official Season 3 duration is published, so any specific season length remains unconfirmed.
What is THE HOTZONE?
THE HOTZONE is an official WARDOGS podcast. Episode 1, titled The Wipe, launched on October 24 and reviewed Season 2 while discussing Season 3 plans. No second episode had been published in the reviewed channels as of October 30. Podcast discussion is official commentary, not a patch note or a release schedule.