| Highguard | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Release Date | Gameplay & Story | Pre-Order & DLC | Review |
| Release Date | |
|---|---|
| January 26, 2026 More Details |
|
| Genre | |
| Action, Shooter, Multiplayer | |
| Platforms | Price (MSRP) |
 |
Free-to-Play |
| Developer | Publisher |
| Wildlight Entertainment, Inc. | Wildlight Entertainment, Inc. |
| Number of Players | Age Rating |
| 1-4 | ESRB T |
| Time to Finish | Cross Platform Play |
| 10-30 minutes per match | Yes |
| Official Website | Official Website for Highguard |
Highguard Latest News
⚫︎ Former Highguard developer Alex Garner recently shared their opinion on why the game ultimately failed. According to Garner, the game naturally leaned too heavily towards competitive gameplay with its 3v3 core structure.
⚫︎ Highguard is officially shutting down on March 12, 2026, as announced by developer Wildlight Entertainment. One more update for the game will be released before servers officially close.
⚫︎ Highguard continues to struggle, its playercount on Steam dropped below the thousand-player mark. A new fast-paced mode called Raid Rush was also released, which is a new game mode that puts players into a 5v5 match without the looting phase.
⚫︎ Highguard's website is currently unavailable. While Highguard's servers remain online, it continues to struggle breaking past 3,000 concurrent players.
⚫︎ Highguard revealed the upcoming hero Ekon, a Warden who can turn into a wolf, releasing on February 6. The update will also release a new separate wolf mount, a new map, and ranked play.
Highguard Overview
Highguard is a free-to-play, 6-player first-person PvP shooter developed by Wildlight Entertainment. Released on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S on January 26, 2026, the game will be shutting down entirely on March 12, 2026. Wildlight will release one more update for Highguard before sunsetting the shooter.
Set in a fantasy-inspired world that blends firearms and magic, Highguard places players in the role of Wardens competing for control of fortified territories. Matches revolve around securing a powerful siege device known as the Shieldbreaker, which teams use to assault opposing strongholds and gain dominance. Wildlight developed Highguard to create a shooter that could stand out in a crowded genre with unique and innovative gameplay. The game is focused on objective-driven PvP raids and team coordination, with players combining gunplay, unique hero abilities, and mounted combat to attack or defend key objectives.
| Digital Storefronts | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steam |
PS |
Xbox |
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| Free-to-Play | |||||
Highguard Gameplay
Highguard is played from a first-person perspective and combines the looting mechanics of battle royales, the base-raiding of survival games, and the fast-paced action of classic deathmatch-style shooters. Only casual matches are currently available, but Ranked matches are coming soon, within February, as detailed in Highguard's 2026 roadmap.
The game revolves around competitive PvP battles where teams contend over an item called the Shieldbreaker, a sword that allows teams to penetrate enemy defenses and attack their base. Once the Shieldbreaker has been secured and brought to an opposing base, a raid will commence, making the ensuing battle do-or-die for the defending team. A match ends once a team's base has been destroyed.
Highguard Characters
Atticus
Atticus is an Assault class character, making him an ideal Warden for leading the charge. His special abilities make use of traditionally melee weapons imbued with electricity, allowing him to deal damage over time with an electrified spear, release explosions from a supercharged axe, and even rain lightning spears upon surrounding enemies and structures.
Una
Una is a Defensive character, making her well-equipped at protecting the base and warding off enemies. Her prowess lies in her summoning ability, being able to call forth spirits of different forms and utility to help hold the line.
Scarlet
Another Assault Warden, Scarlet, is an expert at catching enemies off guard and finding the opportune time to strike. She can make herself hidden from far-off enemies, turn walls into sand, and throw daggers with deadly precision.
Redmane
Redmane is a Destruction Warden. He boasts a dangerous combination of high mobility and unique abilities that let him destroy structures and objects, making his involvement crucial in raiding enemy bases.
Mara
A Support Warden, Mara's role is to keep her teammates alive and help them rejoin the fight should they perish. With her abilities, she can grant overshields and create custom spawn points for her teammates.
Highguard Announcement Trailer
Episode 2 Gameplay Trailer | Highguard
Highguard | Official Reveal Trailer
Highguard Trivia
⚫︎ Highguard's developer studio and publisher, Wildlight Entertainment, Inc., is made up of veteran video game developers who have worked on Apex Legends, Titanfall, and the Call of Duty franchise.
⚫︎ At the time of Highguard's launch, around 60 of its approximately 100 employees had previously worked on Apex Legends and Titanfall, specifically.
⚫︎ During the early stages of Highguard's development, every single Wildlight employee would create a pitch on the game's design every single day.
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