Highguard: A Unique Blend of Gameplay Styles

Highguard, the new free-to-play PvP "raid shooter," has taken the gaming world by storm. Developed by Wildlight Entertainment, a studio formed by former Titanfall 2 and Apex Legends developers, Highguard offers a fresh twist on the first-person shooter genre.

Gameplay Overview

• 3v3 Format: Two teams of three players each start at opposite ends of one of five maps.
• Objective: Secure the Shieldbreaker, a powerful magical sword, and use it to break down the enemy's shield.
• Victory Condition: Destroy three generators in the enemy base after breaking their shield.

Characters and Abilities

• Wardens: Choose from eight unique characters, each with special abilities.
• Weapons: Equip one of ten standard weapons and one of three powerful, limited-use Raid weapons.
• Mounts: Traverse the map on one of three mounts: a horse, a panther, or a bear.

Gameplay Elements

• Capture the Flag: The capture and control of the Shieldbreaker resemble this classic mode.
• Battle Royale Inspirations: Large-scale maps and loot boxes filled with better weapons and armor.
• Search and Destroy: Attacking and defending bases with the ability to plant and defuse bombs.

Reception and Launch

• Reveal at The Game Awards 2025: Sparked discussions about its suitability as the closing title.
• Initial Concerns: Some players were unsure about the game's identity.
• Strong Launch: Reached 97,000 concurrent players on Steam in just its first hour.

Future Updates

• Roadmap for 2026: Wildlight Entertainment plans to introduce more Wardens, bases, weapons, maps, mounts, and other content as soon as next month.
• Ongoing Support: Promises to keep the game fresh and exciting for players.