Highguard is the newest free-to-play multiplayer shooter from Wildlight Entertainment, a studio founded by former Apex Legends developers. The game debuted at a preview event in Los Angeles, where the author rode a fantasy horse through a demo that felt like a mash-up of Apex, Valorant, Rainbow Six, and League of Legends.
**At a Glance
- Highguard offers a unique Raid Shooter mode that blends first-person shooting with MOBA-style lane skirmishes and base raiding.
- The game is cross-play and cross-progression on PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC, and it’s free to download.
- Wildlight plans a live-service roadmap of new Wardens, maps, and episodes every two months.
- Why it matters: Players get a fresh competitive experience that mixes familiar mechanics with a brand-new genre.
Game Overview
Highguard is a multiplayer-only title that emphasizes fast, competitive matches. The game’s core is the Raid mode, where two 3v3 teams battle over a single base. Each match lasts between 15-25 minutes, and the game loops four timed phases to keep the pace high.
Raid Mode Mechanics
Before the match starts, players choose a Warden hero and vote on a base from a pool of six. Each base has 100 hit points. The first phase gives teams one minute to fortify walls. In the second phase, squads have 2 minutes to collect upgraded weapons and resources. The third phase pits teams in a frantic Shieldbreaker fight: a special sword drops, and the team that brings it to the enemy base can slam it into the shield to open the base.
Once the shield opens, a siege tower appears. Attacking players can then deploy bombs at two generators for 35 base damage each or plant explosives at the Anchor Stone for an instant win. Defenders can defuse bombs to prevent the damage.
Hero Classes and Gear
At launch, 8 Wardens are available, each with unique passive, tactical, and ultimate abilities. One example is Kai, who can create ice walls, repair walls, and transform into a frost giant.
Weapon rarity increases with each loop. Legendary guns-gold-colored and faster reloading-can deal more damage. A revolver, for instance, lets you fan the hammer for a blindingly quick burst.
Live Service Roadmap
Wildlight announced a clear content schedule: every two weeks a new episode will drop, featuring a fresh Warden, map, and base. All new content is free for every player.
Monetization focuses on cosmetics. The store opens with War Chest bundles ranging from $9 to $20. War Chests never expire, and players can earn cosmetics through weekly and seasonal challenges.
Development and Design Philosophy
The team’s history with Apex Legends informs their approach. “We learned a lot from launching Apex on the same day it was announced,” said Jason Torfin, vice president of product and publishing. “We’re now applying those lessons to get a reliable pipeline for new content.”
Wildlight experimented with team sizes and base health to balance fun and competitiveness. “We used a lock-and-key mechanic to focus raiding on one base at a time,” Torfin added. “And the Shieldbreaker sword is our way of keeping the action high.”
Player Experience and Balance
A ranked version of Raid will launch two weeks after the free-play release, giving competitive players a way to climb tiers.
The game’s design includes several comeback mechanics. Alavi, the lead designer, explained, “Because each phase resets part of the match, teams have repeated opportunities to gear up and win a Shieldbreaker fight.”
In one anecdote, Alavi described a match where his team was down 100 to 10. By planting bombs faster and securing a legendary gun, the team flipped the tide and won.
Future Plans and Storytelling
While the core gameplay is focused on action, the world of Highguard contains a narrative seeded through item descriptions and bundles. “The world itself is a character,” Torfin said. “We’ll continue adding story in comics, novels, and animated shorts.”
Key Takeaways
- Highguard introduces a new Raid Shooter genre that blends FPS, MOBA, and base-raiding.
- The single Raid mode offers fast, looping matches with clear objectives.
- Wildlight’s roadmap guarantees free, regular content updates every two weeks.
- Monetization is cosmetic-only, with a War Chest system that never expires.
- Competitive integrity is a priority, with a ranked mode and comeback mechanics.
- The game’s lore will expand beyond the battlefield into other media.
Highguard may be a niche experiment, but its blend of familiar and novel mechanics could carve out a new space in the crowded shooter market.
