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ValheimAnti-Cheat and Bans
Wardogs uses the kernel-level anti-cheat Elytra, per its Steam store page; the betas used Easy Anti-Cheat, and the switch is why Wardogs does not run on Linux or Steam Deck. Bulkhead bans cheaters and exploiters (cash and XP reset to 0, timed or permanent bans), turned off Steam Family Sharing on Sep 18, 2026 to stop ban evasion, and capped official servers at 175 ms ping on Oct 21.
Wardogs uses a kernel-level anti-cheat called Elytra: the Steam store page says it "Uses Kernel Level Anti-Cheat Elytra" and asks buyers to accept a third-party EULA. The betas ran on Easy Anti-Cheat instead (GamingOnLinux, Sep 5, 2026), and the switch before launch is why Wardogs no longer runs on Linux or Steam Deck. Bulkhead backs the software with human review and player reports, bans exploiters as well as cheaters (with cash and XP reset to 0), turned off Steam Family Sharing on Sep 18, 2026 because banned players were using it to come back, and on Oct 21 lowered official servers' maximum ping to 175 against regions "more prone to cheating". Bulkhead CEO Joe Brammer's view is that "The $40 price tag is the best anti-cheat."
Quick facts
| Anti-cheat at launch | Elytra, kernel level (Steam store page) |
| Anti-cheat in the betas | Easy Anti-Cheat |
| EULA | WARDOGS EULA (third party), required |
| Exploit penalty | Timed ban, cash and XP reset to 0 (since Sep 12, 2026) |
| Exploit tutorials, XP farm servers | Permanent ban |
| Steam Family Sharing | Turned off Sep 18, 2026 |
| Ping cap on official servers | 175 ms since Oct 21, 2026 |
| Linux, Proton, Steam Deck | Not supported |
Sources: Steam store page, read Oct 26, 2026; GamingOnLinux, Sep 5, 2026; Bulkhead's Patch 0.11 post, Sep 12, 2026; PCGamesN, Sep 19, 2026; Bulkhead on X, Oct 21, 2026; Steam's Deck compatibility report, read Oct 26, 2026.
Elytra and Easy Anti-Cheat
The store lists Elytra as Wardogs' kernel-level anti-cheat (Steam, read Oct 26, 2026). During the betas the game used Easy Anti-Cheat, and GamingOnLinux reported on Sep 5 that the developers were testing "something else" for launch (GamingOnLinux). Bulkhead has not published how Elytra works. Brammer has said the "anti-cheat stuff" is "expensive and there's risk we're taking on there" (GamesRadar+, Sep 19, 2026). When the game will not launch with a WD-L0 error such as WD-L014, a fix that worked for some players is to run Elytra-Setup in the game's Elytra folder and choose Repair (GamesRadar+, Sep 17, 2026); more on Crashes and Errors.
Linux, Proton and Steam Deck
In August Bulkhead said it was working on Proton support for Linux and SteamOS (GamingOnLinux via Steam, Aug 13, 2026), and the beta ran there. On Sep 5 the developers said "We do not officially support Linux and we cannot commit to having support for launch", and asked anyone who had bought it to play through Proton to "refund the game if you mistakenly bought it" (GamingOnLinux). Brammer told Game Rant Linux is a priority "in part for Steam Deck. But not at the expense of security" (Game Rant, Sep 8, 2026). TheGamer reported that the late anti-cheat change left Steam Deck and Linux players who had played the beta unable to play at launch (TheGamer, Sep 10, 2026). As of Oct 26, 2026 Steam rates Wardogs Unsupported on Steam Deck and SteamOS, and no date for Linux support has been given. See PC Requirements and Performance.
Bulkhead's anti-cheat videos and reporting
Bulkhead's pre-launch video on cheating, posted on Sep 8, 2026 as "The 11th Reason NOT To Buy WARDOGS", tells players to report cheaters on official servers, or to play on community servers, where admins can ban bad actors at once: Bulkhead calls that "the ultimate protection" (Bulkhead, Sep 8, 2026). GamingBolt described the video as a "harsh stance": the team reviewed beta cheaters' play before banning them, asked players to report cheaters as soon as they meet them, and said it might enforce mandatory anti-cheat software on accounts linked to known cheaters (GamingBolt, Sep 9, 2026). Germany's Mein-MMO (Sep 9) reported it as the developers' "number one rule" against cheaters, zero tolerance, with an invitation to banned cheaters to buy the game again so they can be banned again.
The Season 1 changelog added a report tracking system, weighting so that repeat and bad-faith reporters count for less, and in-server announcements of cheater bans when match termination is off (Bulkhead, Sep 9, 2026). It also made the "kicked from server" message appear only when a player has actually been banned. Brammer on moderation: "We always have to have a human involved" (PCGamesN, Sep 12, 2026). Community server admins run their own bans; see Servers and Matchmaking.
False bans at launch
The launch anti-cheat was overly aggressive and banned legitimate alpha testers, including the streamers Shroud and Summit1g; a team member mistakenly banned Summit1g instead of the cheater killing him on stream (PCGamesN, Sep 12, 2026). The ban was reversed, and Dexerto reported that Wardogs' anti-cheat combines AI detection with manual review (Dexerto, Sep 12, 2026). Bulkhead said it was undoing false bans (TheGamer, Sep 10, 2026).
Exploit and economy bans
Because cash is the game (Economy and Cash), Bulkhead treats economy abuse like cheating. Its Sep 12, 2026 rules (Patch 0.11 post):
| Offense | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Abusing a cash or bug exploit | Timed ban, cash and XP reset to 0 |
| Posting a tutorial of an exploit | Counted as advertising cheats: permanent ban |
| Joining an XP farming server "for more than a few minutes" | Permanent ban ("We track every server you enter") |
On Sep 30 Update 0.1.2 closed more exploits (revive checks made fully server authoritative, vehicle fly-through rewards capped, less pay for pallets dropped at FOBs outside the zone) and Bulkhead said exploiters and real-money traders had already had cash and progression reset: "That leniency is now over", and repeat exploiters risk permanent bans without warning (Bulkhead, Sep 30, 2026). On Season 2's first day a Driver exploit (rapid pallet trips just outside the base) let players unlock tanks; Bulkhead patched it, and fewer than 1,000 players who abused it "very clearly" got a 24-hour ban and a cash and XP wipe, per Brammer (PC Gamer, Oct 16, 2026; Eurogamer). Bulkhead has not published total ban counts as of Oct 26, 2026. See Season 2 and Patches and Updates.
Steam Family Sharing turned off
Bulkhead turned off Steam Family Sharing for Wardogs on Friday, Sep 18, 2026, because "A number of accounts were exploiting Steam Family Sharing to bypass bans". Brammer defended it on X: "The $40 price tag is the best anti-cheat" (PCGamesN, Sep 19, 2026). Every player now needs their own copy; see Price and Supporter Edition.
Cheaters, DDoS attacks and the ping cap
On Sep 26, 2026 Brammer wrote that the team had spent "our whole time fighting bottom-feeder cheaters and constant DDOS attacks" (GamesRadar+, Sep 28, 2026). On Oct 21 Bulkhead said on X: "Today we have begun the process of controlling regions... we will be reducing the maximum ping on a server to be 175", to protect players "from an influx of regions that are more prone to cheating" (Bulkhead on X). The statement named no regions and gave no cheating figures (GameRiv, Oct 22, 2026). GameWatcher reported that some official servers had allowed up to 250 ms under Season 2's limits, that Brammer said VPNs make players hard to locate and the measure is not final, and that players in Asia and friends in different countries complained. The next day was Wardogs' worst on Steam reviews (Reception and Reviews).
Frequently asked questions
What anti-cheat does Wardogs use? Wardogs uses Elytra, a kernel-level anti-cheat, according to its Steam store page. The closed betas used Easy Anti-Cheat before Bulkhead switched for the Sep 10, 2026 launch.
Does Wardogs have kernel-level anti-cheat? Yes. Wardogs' Steam page says it "Uses Kernel Level Anti-Cheat Elytra" and requires accepting the third-party WARDOGS EULA.
Can you get banned in Wardogs for exploits? Yes. Since Sep 12, 2026 Bulkhead gives exploiters a timed ban with cash and XP reset to 0, and permanently bans anyone who posts exploit tutorials or stays on XP farming servers.
Does Wardogs work on Steam Deck or Linux? No. Wardogs is Unsupported on Steam Deck and SteamOS as of Oct 26, 2026, because its Elytra anti-cheat does not run under Proton; Bulkhead has given no date for Linux support.
Why did Wardogs turn off Steam Family Sharing? Bulkhead turned off Family Sharing on Sep 18, 2026 because banned players were using shared accounts to get back in. Bulkhead CEO Joe Brammer said "The $40 price tag is the best anti-cheat."
How do I report a cheater in Wardogs? Use Wardogs' in-game report function on official servers; Bulkhead weights reports so repeat and bad-faith reporters count for less. On community servers, the server's admins can ban cheaters at once.
Why is there a 175 ms ping limit in Wardogs? On Oct 21, 2026 Bulkhead lowered the maximum ping on official Wardogs servers to 175 to keep out players from regions it says are "more prone to cheating", while it builds region locking; Bulkhead CEO Joe Brammer said the measure is not final.
Sources
- WARDOGS on Steam, Steam, read Oct 26, 2026
- Deck compatibility report for app 1867240, Steam, read Oct 26, 2026
- Grand-scale FPS 'WARDOGS' should work on Linux / SteamOS, GamingOnLinux (via Steam), Aug 13, 2026
- WARDOGS developers clarify Linux support via Proton may come later, GamingOnLinux, Sep 5, 2026
- The 11th Reason NOT To Buy WARDOGS, Bulkhead (Steam), Sep 8, 2026
- New Steam Game Like Call of Duty Only Supports Some PCs, Game Rant, Sep 8, 2026
- WARDOGS Takes "Harsh Stance" Against Cheating In Latest Video, GamingBolt, Sep 9, 2026
- Macher von Wardogs wenden sich mit ungewöhnlicher Bitte an Cheater, Mein-MMO, Sep 9, 2026
- Pre-Load Live & Season 1 Changelog, Bulkhead (Steam), Sep 9, 2026
- Wardogs Is Being Review Bombed For Having Hour Long Queue Times, TheGamer, Sep 10, 2026
- SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE & PATCH 0.11, Bulkhead (Steam), Sep 12, 2026
- Wardogs dev reflects on the FPS game's messy Steam takeover, PCGamesN, Sep 12, 2026
- Wardogs dev responds after Summit1g accidentally banned instead of cheater, Dexerto, Sep 12, 2026
- Wardogs error codes and possible fixes, GamesRadar+, Sep 17, 2026
- Wardogs drops Steam Family Sharing as CEO claims its $40 price tag is "the best anti-cheat", PCGamesN, Sep 19, 2026
- Wardogs studio checks the Steam accounts of their hires, GamesRadar+, Sep 19, 2026
- As Wardogs sells 3 million copies, lead admits "bottom feeder cheaters," "constant DDOS attacks", GamesRadar+, Sep 28, 2026
- WARDOGS | Update 0.1.2 (Minor Patch), Bulkhead (Steam), Sep 30, 2026
- 'We f**ked up': 1 day into Wardogs Season 2, the Blue team bribery bonus is being dropped, PC Gamer, Oct 16, 2026
- Wardogs devs rush to fix XP exploit allowing players to quickly unlock tanks, Eurogamer, Oct 16, 2026
- Today we have begun the process of controlling regions, Bulkhead (WARDOGS on X), Oct 21, 2026
- WARDOGS Developers Introduce 175ms Ping Cap and Region Locking to Fight Cheating, GameRiv, Oct 22, 2026
- Wardogs Begins Region Locking to Combat Cheaters as Season 3 Could Arrive Early, GameWatcher, Oct 22, 2026
- WARDOGS | The #1 Rule of Anti-Cheat, Bulkhead, Sep 8, 2026 (video)
- WARDOGS | Launch Day Recap, Bulkhead, Sep 11, 2026 (video)
Moments
WARDOGS | The #1 Rule of Anti-Cheat
BULKHEAD
- Wardogs uses a kernel-level anti-cheat called Elytra: the Steam store page says it "Uses Kernel Level Anti-Cheat…
- The store lists Elytra as Wardogs' kernel-level anti-cheat (Steam, read Oct 26, 2026). During the betas the game used…
- Bulkhead's pre-launch video on cheating, posted on Sep 8, 2026 as "The 11th Reason NOT To Buy WARDOGS", tells players…
WARDOGS | Launch Day Recap
BULKHEAD
Related
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Consoles and CrossplayWardogs is on Windows PC through Steam only; PlayStation 5 and Xbox versions are planned for 2028 with the 1.0 release, and both can be wishlisted. There is no crossplay because there is only one platform, and Bulkhead has not said whether PC and consoles will play together; Steam Deck, Linux and Mac are not supported.
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Price and Supporter EditionWardogs costs $39.99 on Steam (£36.99 in the UK), and the Supporter Edition costs $49.99 with a cosmetic Supporter Pack of camos, a scoreboard icon and two bobbleheads. It is not free to play and has no battle pass; Bulkhead plans to raise the price to $49.99 and then $59.99 during Early Access, and Steam's usual refund rule (14 days, under two hours played) applies.
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AchievementsWardogs has 10 Steam achievements, one of them hidden ("That was rude": punch Kristopher in the Tutorial). "Top Dog" asks you to finish a match as the top cash earner across all three teams; "Big Spender" ($100,000 on one loadout) is the rarest, held by 0.0% of players on Oct 26, 2026.
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Gold Bars and the Gold MarketGold Bars are Wardogs' endgame currency: you get them by exchanging in-game cash, and leftover cash turns into Gold Bars at the end of a season, so they survive wipes. They are spent on camos in the Gold Market, which unlocks at Wardog level 35 for $150,000 in Season 2. Bulkhead has pledged never to sell cash, Gold Bars or camos for real money.
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Progression and UnlocksWardogs has seven progression tracks: the Wardog career track and six roles (Assault, Medic, Recon, Support, Driver, Pilot). Using a role's gear earns that role XP; reaching a level makes an item available, and you then pay a one-time cash unlock (the Havoc costs $650,000 at Pilot 35 in Season 2). Every track resets at a season wipe; Season 2 (Oct 15, 2026) made level 20 take less than half the Season 1 playtime.
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FactionsWardogs has three factions: Lonestar (blue), a Western paramilitary company; Valkyra (red), out to restore the Soviet People's Republic; and Manticore (green), Persia's shadow army. They play the same, but blue has lost more often since the betas, and Season 2's one-day Lonestar bonus did not fix it.
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See also
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Crashes and ErrorsMost Wardogs launch errors (the WD-L0 codes such as WD-L014) are fixed for some players by repairing the Elytra anti-cheat from the game's folder; WD-L020 was a Windows 11 update clash fixed in update 0.1.2 on Sep 30, 2026; errors 1147405308 and 1413677057 point to the servers. Official help is Team17 support at support.team17.com.
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PC Requirements and PerformanceWardogs needs at least 64-bit Windows 10, an Intel Core i5 8600 or AMD Ryzen 5 3500, 16 GB of RAM, an Nvidia GTX 1660 or Radeon RX 590 and 50 GB of storage for 1080p Low at 60 fps upscaled. The recommended spec (Core i7 12700k or Ryzen 7 5700x, RTX 3070 or RX 6700 XT) targets 1440p Medium at 70 fps. Windows only; Steam Deck and Linux are unsupported.
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Servers and MatchmakingWardogs has no matchmaking button: you pick a match from a server browser, through the Deploy screen's Official, Community, Infantry Mode and Low-Level choices. Official servers have kicked high-ping players since Season 2, with a 175 ms maximum since Oct 21, 2026, and limited servers are planned.
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Patches and UpdatesThe latest Wardogs update is 0.2.0, Season 2, live since Oct 15, 2026, followed by a backend hotfix that removed the Lonestar bonus on Oct 16 and a 175 ms ping cap from Oct 21. Before it came the Sep 9 Season 1 changelog, Launch Stability Hotfix #1 (Sep 10), Patch 0.11 (Sep 14), Update 0.1.2 (Sep 30) and two hotfixes on Oct 2.