Which version is playable?
On September 5, the available test is Closed Beta 02, not the September 10 commercial Early Access launch. Steam advertises a September 3–6 test window ending at 08:00 UTC on September 6. Check the latest announcement before arranging a final session; a test schedule is not a permanent entitlement.
Choose the correct access route
The developer’s September announcement distinguishes guaranteed pre-order access from limited Steam invitation waves. A request is an application, not proof of acceptance. Likewise, seeing the main WARDOGS product in your library does not mean that product has launched. Look for the separately named WARDOGS Playtest entry and any outstanding download.
If access is missing, establish three facts before reinstalling anything: which Steam account purchased or requested access, whether that account received an invitation, and whether the current server window remains open. This separates an entitlement question from a local installation problem.
Expect a scale test
BULKHEAD identifies login queues, server browsing, voice, Drops, and DLC entitlements as test targets. A failure in those systems is worth reporting with the time, server, and visible error, but it is not evidence that you need an unofficial launcher or paid beta key. Use the official store and announcements for access.