Highguard Launches: Inside the PvP Raid Shooter's Rocky Reveal and Long-Term Vision

The final, explosive trailer at The Game Awards 2025 was meant to be a mic-drop moment. Instead, for Highguard, it became a cautionary tale. The reveal of this "PvP raid shooter" from studio Wildlight Entertainment—packed with Titanfall and Apex Legends veterans—triggered a wave of online skepticism. Yet, by its launch on January 26, 2026, the narrative had flipped. A wave of positive previews now praised its deep, innovative gameplay. This stark contrast poses a central question: how did Highguard navigate from controversial reveal to promising launch?

The answer lies in a candid admission from its developers and a steadfast "long haul" philosophy. This commitment is now being tested as Highguard—an ambitious blend of hero shooter, base defense, and raid mechanics—goes live, offering a case study in modern game development.

From Game Awards Buzz to Launch Reality

The stage at The Game Awards is the most coveted real estate in gaming marketing, and Highguard occupied its final slot in December 2025. The pressure was immense. "We know there's a lot of eyes on us after our Game Awards trailer," Co-founder and Game Director Chad Grenier later acknowledged, referencing the "heightened expectations" that came with the spotlight. The reaction, however, was mixed, with online discourse quickly focusing on perceived similarities to other titles and questions about its unique identity.

In a strategic—or perhaps necessary—move, developer Wildlight Entertainment then went radio silent. This planned hiatus ended abruptly at launch, as the game arrived on PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PlayStation 5 with full crossplay support. More revealing than the launch itself was the developers' post-mortem on the reveal. Co-founder and CEO Dusty Welch addressed the elephant in the room with striking honesty: "We could have made a different trailer—a better trailer," he stated, acknowledging the initial negative reception. This frank reflection set the tone for a launch focused not on overhyped promises, but on the tangible product now in players' hands.

Decoding the "PvP Raid Shooter" Gameplay Loop

So, what is Highguard beyond that first trailer? It’s a genre hybrid that demands explanation. At its core, it’s a 3v3 experience where teams, called "Wardens," engage in a phase-based tactical struggle. A match begins with base selection, where each team chooses one of six launch fortresses to defend. A fortification phase follows, allowing for strategic setup. Then, the map opens up.

Teams venture out to loot resources, upgrade their gear, and engage in skirmishes with the rival squad. The ultimate goal is to secure the "Shieldbreaker," a powerful sword that becomes the key to victory. This weapon allows a team to breach the enemy's base, triggering an intense, escalating raid sequence. The loop of defend, loot, upgrade, and attack creates a compelling rhythm distinct from traditional deathmatches or battle royales.

Further separating Highguard from the pack is its "lost frequencies" mechanic. Scattered across the map are audio logs that, when activated, summon creature mounts. These aren’t just cosmetic; they are vital tools for rapid traversal across the game's five large launch maps, seamlessly blending movement into the tactical decision-making. With eight launch Wardens, ten weapons, and various mods, the launch suite provides a solid foundation for this complex dance of offense and defense.

A Studio Built for the "Long Haul": Philosophy and Model

Understanding Highguard’s trajectory requires understanding the team behind it. Wildlight Entertainment is no startup; it's an independent studio of over 60 developers whose resumes prominently feature Titanfall 2 and Apex Legends. This is a group intimately familiar with building shooters with legs. Their stated vision for Highguard is not a one-and-done release, but the foundation of a long-term franchise. "We're in this for the long haul," has become a mantra, repeated to emphasize a commitment to iterative development and community health.

This philosophy is baked into the game's commercial model. Highguard is a free-to-play live service game, but Wildlight is deliberately avoiding common pitfalls. Its content roadmap is built around free, roughly bi-monthly "Episodes," with a full year of content already in deep development. Monetization is strictly limited to cosmetic-only purchases, with a direct-purchase store and no loot boxes. As a major launch goodwill gesture, every player received the free "Episode One War Chest," unlocking 44 cosmetic items immediately. This model clearly signals a priority on player retention over short-term monetization, betting that a fair ecosystem will foster the lasting community they desire.

Navigating Expectations and Early Reception

The team felt the weight of the reveal's aftermath. "There were a lot of eyes on us, and we knew that," Welch reflected, acknowledging the pressure that came from their high-profile stumble. The early online narrative was challenging, rooted in the brief, potentially misleading glimpse of a deeply systemic game.

The turning point began with hands-on previews. As critics and influencers got to experience the nuanced gameplay loop—the tension of base defense, the strategy of resource runs, the chaos of the final raid—the discourse shifted. Positive previews began to surface, with some outlets hailing it as one of the most inventive new shooters in years. This contrast highlights a central tension in today's market: a game's depth can be obscured by a trailer designed for spectacle. Wildlight’s strategy became clear: let the gameplay, supported by a transparent long-term plan, do the talking.

Highguard’s story is less about a single launch moment and more a test case for veteran developers pursuing a marathon, not a sprint. Its success now hinges on the consistent execution of its ambitious Episode roadmap and whether its unique "raid shooter" formula can carve a durable niche in an intensely competitive landscape. It stands as a poignant case study for the modern era, demonstrating that for live-service games, the narrative management after the reveal is often as critical to survival as the quality of the game itself. For Wildlight Entertainment, the marathon is underway, and the true test of their philosophy starts now.