Highguard is an upcoming free-to-play PvP first-person shooter developed by Wildlight Entertainment, a studio founded in 2021 by veterans from Respawn Entertainment—who created Titanfall and Apex Legends.
Announced as the final reveal at The Game Awards 2025 on December 11, 2025, it is scheduled for release on January 26, 2026, on PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, with full cross-play and cross-progression support.
Core Concept and GameplayHighguard is billed as a "raid shooter", a new subgenre blending fast-paced hero-shooter elements with structured raiding and territorial conquest mechanics.
Players take on the role of Wardens—arcane gunslingers wielding a mix of modern firearms, magical abilities, and supernatural powers—in team-based matches set on a contested mythical continent.
The primary gameplay loop involves:- Fighting for the Shieldbreaker: Teams battle rival crews in open areas to capture this powerful siege artifact/objective, often involving mounts (like horses or fantastical creatures) for traversal, minor PvE elements (e.g., fighting creatures to power up), and intense gunplay/magic combat.
- Raiding the enemy base: Once the Shieldbreaker is secured, it pierces protective shields around fortified enemy bases.
Teams then push in, using destructible environments to breach walls, navigate defenses, and plant/detonate objectives at the core—evoking structured versions of base raids seen in games like Rust, but in match-based format.
This creates layered strategy: balancing open-field skirmishes, resource/power-up gathering, and coordinated assaults on destructible strongholds. The setting fuses high fantasy (magic, mythical creatures, medieval-inspired mounts) with sci-fi/futuristic weapons, creating visually striking environments with tactical depth from terrain, cover, and hazards.
Development and Reception- Studio Pedigree: Wildlight's team includes key figures behind Apex Legends' fluid movement and Titanfall's innovative mechanics, aiming to evolve the shooter genre similarly to how Apex disrupted battle royales.
- Marketing Approach: Following a surprise reveal, the game has seen minimal post-announcement promotion (limited social media activity, no new trailers/gameplay deep dives as of early January 2026), mirroring Apex's shadow-drop strategy.
This has fueled speculation and mixed early buzz—some excitement for its unique raid focus, others skepticism due to perceived generic hero-shooter visuals and saturation in the live-service PvP market.
- Monetization: Free-to-play with in-game purchases (likely cosmetics/battle passes, typical for the genre).
As of January 8, 2026, the game is just weeks from launch, positioning it as a bold, high-risk entry into competitive multiplayer gaming. Its success may hinge on how well the raid mechanics deliver thrilling, accessible team play distinct from established titles like Overwatch, Valorant, or Destiny.
If you're into innovative FPS experiences with fantasy flair and base-destruction chaos, it's one to watch closely upon release.
