Highguard: Everything We Know About the Raid Shooter's Gameplay Deep Dive and Launch

The wait for Highguard is over in the most dramatic way possible. Developer Wildlight Entertainment has announced that on January 26, 2026, they will not only host a full gameplay deep dive for their surprise PvP 'raid shooter'—they will launch the game globally on the very same day. This bombshell follows the game's electric debut at The Game Awards 2025, where its cinematic trailer and the pedigree of its creators—veterans from Titanfall and Apex Legends—sent immediate shockwaves through the community. After months of speculation fueled by that cryptic reveal, the central question is now being answered: What can players expect from this ambitious free-to-play title when it drops?

The Big Reveal: Launch Date and Deep Dive Showcase

The period of radio silence has been decisively broken. Wildlight Entertainment has confirmed that Monday, January 26, 2026, will be a landmark day for Highguard. At 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET, the studio will host a major showcase event that serves a dual, unprecedented purpose.

First and foremost, it will be a full gameplay deep dive. This is the moment fans have been waiting for—a comprehensive look at the mechanics, maps, characters, and moment-to-moment action that define the "raid shooter" genre. Secondly, the showcase will outline the vision for the game’s future, detailing the studio's plans for the first year of post-launch content. This forward-looking roadmap is a critical signal of Wildlight’s commitment to the live-service model from day one.

The most audacious part of this announcement is the timing. Highguard is scheduled for its global release on January 26, 2026—the same day as the showcase. This strategy launches the game alongside its major reveal, inviting players to watch the deep dive and then immediately jump into the experience themselves. It’s a bold, confident play that aims to convert hype into a live player base instantly.

From Respawn to Raids: The Wildlight Entertainment Pedigree

Understanding the buzz around Highguard requires looking at the studio behind it. Wildlight Entertainment was founded by former developers from Respawn Entertainment, a studio synonymous with genre-defining movement and shooter excellence. This team carries direct experience from two titanic franchises: the precise, high-flying mech combat of Titanfall and the revolutionary battle royale phenomenon of Apex Legends.

This background sets extraordinarily high expectations. Players can reasonably anticipate a shooter with a profound emphasis on polished, fluid movement—a hallmark of Respawn’s design philosophy. Furthermore, the live-service expertise honed through years of evolving Apex Legends suggests Wildlight understands how to build, balance, and grow a competitive multiplayer title. The launch strategy itself is a direct parallel to Apex Legends’ own legendary surprise release in 2019, which bypassed a lengthy marketing cycle to let the gameplay speak for itself. By announcing a deep dive and launch on the same day, Wildlight is betting that its core gameplay loop is strong enough to captivate players immediately, just as Apex did.

Decoding the "Raid Shooter": Highguard's Core Gameplay

So, what is a "raid shooter"? Wildlight’s chosen genre descriptor points to a fusion of objective-based, large-scale PvP with the character-driven action of a hero shooter. The core loop pits two teams against each other in a battle to besiege and destroy the opposing team’s fortified base.

This isn't a simple team deathmatch. The gameplay revolves around strategic use of key elements:

• Mounts: For rapid traversal across large, battlefield-style maps.
• Character Abilities: Each operative brings unique skills to the fight, influencing team composition and strategy.
• The Central Objective: The path to victory involves claiming the "Shieldbreaker" sword. This powerful relic is used to summon a massive battering ram, the key tool for breaching the enemy's defenses.

Recent leaks have added more color to this framework. A PS5 trophy list that appeared online suggested the existence of five distinct character classes, hinting at defined roles like Tank, Support, or Assault. The same leak also mentioned a unique power weapon called the "BigRig LMG," pointing to the inclusion of map-control weapons that can swing the tide of a raid.

Platforms and Pre-Launch Signals

Highguard will launch simultaneously across all major modern platforms: PC (via Steam), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. This ensures the broadest possible player base from the outset, critical for a competitive PvP title.

For observant fans, this announcement didn't come completely out of the blue. The recent period of "silence" was actually punctuated by telling signs of activity behind the scenes. An updated Steam page and the aforementioned PS5 trophy list leak were clear indicators that development was progressing steadily toward a launch state. These weren't mere accidents; they were the digital equivalent of a studio preparing its stage, confident that the curtain was about to rise. The official showcase and launch date announcement simply confirmed what these breadcrumbs had already hinted: Highguard was ready for its close-up.

The stage is set for January 26, 2026. In one coordinated move, Wildlight Entertainment will pull back the curtain on Highguard’s gameplay and open its gates to players worldwide. The convergence of a deep-dive showcase and a surprise launch is a high-risk, high-reward strategy that only a team with this specific pedigree would attempt. It promises a shooter built on a legacy of impeccable mechanics, wrapped in an innovative "raid" format that could redefine team-based objectives. Mark your calendars for 10 AM PT on January 26th. The wait to see Highguard in action is over, and the battle to claim the Shieldbreaker sword begins immediately after.