Highguard's Roadmap: How Ex-Apex Legends Devs Are Building a Better Live Service Launch

Imagine launching one of the biggest games of the decade, only to realize you're flying blind. There is no map, no compass, and the sheer scale of the success has outpaced every plan you had. This was the stark reality for many of the developers behind the explosive 2019 launch of Apex Legends. The game became a phenomenon overnight, but its creators at Respawn Entertainment were left scrambling, unprepared for the relentless demand for new content that followed. Now, a core team of those same veterans has been granted a rare commodity in game development: a second chance. Their new project, Highguard, slated for launch in early 2026, represents more than just another free-to-play shooter; it is a deliberate, meticulously crafted correction of past mistakes. This is the story of how Wildlight Entertainment is using hard-won lessons from Apex's chaotic beginnings to architect a player-first live service experience designed for longevity from day one.

Learning from Launch Day Ghosts: The Apex Legends "Mistake"

For the developers now at Wildlight, the term "mistake" is not used lightly. It refers to a specific, foundational error in strategy that defined Apex Legends' early growing pains. In numerous interviews, the team has pinpointed the core issue: launching without a clear, long-term content plan.

"When Apex blew up, we were unprepared for that level of success in terms of a live service pipeline," is a sentiment echoed by veterans of the project. The game arrived as a complete and polished package, but its roadmap for the months and years ahead was nebulous. This lack of a concrete plan had immediate consequences. The studio found itself reacting to the game's popularity rather than guiding it, leading to periods of content drought that frustrated the burgeoning player base. Development became a stressful cycle of playing catch-up, a stark contrast to the confidence of the initial launch.

This experience is the bedrock of Highguard's entire development philosophy. The "mistake" of being unprepared is the ghost they are determined to exorcise. It’s a lesson that shifts the focus from merely having a live service to sustaining one with intention and foresight. For Wildlight, the mission is clear: never again launch a game into the live service arena without a detailed blueprint for its future.

Blueprint for Success: Highguard's "Ruthless" and Flexible Plan

Wildlight Entertainment, a studio of roughly 100 developers, carries significant Respawn DNA—approximately 60% of the team are veterans, including key figures like design lead Mohammad Alavi and lead game designer Carlos Pineda. This shared history means they share a common understanding of what went wrong and, more importantly, what it takes to build a great shooter.

Their strategy for Highguard is built on two pillars: ruthless scoping and built-in flexibility.

"Ruthless scoping" refers to the disciplined focus on a manageable, high-quality core experience for launch. Instead of overpromising with a bloated feature list, the team concentrated on perfecting the foundational gameplay loop of their "raid shooter." According to their announced plans, this will result in a solid launch featuring 8 Wardens (characters), 5 maps, 10 weapons, and a suite of tools and mods. The goal is to provide a deep, stable foundation upon which to build, rather than a shaky tower of half-finished ideas.

Simultaneously, the team has baked "pivots" into their design process. This means the long-term plan, while detailed, is not set in stone. They have structured their development to adapt to player feedback and meta shifts without derailing the entire roadmap. It’s a recognition that no plan survives first contact with players, and the ability to adjust course is as important as having a course to begin with.

The Roadmap Decoded: Episodes, Not Seasons

The most tangible evidence of Wildlight's new approach is Highguard’s post-launch structure. The studio is abandoning the industry-standard three-month seasonal model in favor of a faster, two-month cycle called "Episodes." This isn't just a semantic change; it's a statement of intent.

The plan is to release 7 Episodes throughout 2026, a cadence that signals a significantly faster content pace than Apex Legends managed in its first year. The developers have stated this accelerated rhythm is a direct response to modern player expectations, aiming for more frequent meaningful updates without reaching the unsustainable "hyper-speed" of some mobile titles.

This detailed, public-facing roadmap is a contract with the community, built on the transparency that was often missing in the reactive early days of Apex. The content mapped for Year One is both ambitious and specific, showcasing the preparedness that was previously lacking:

• New Wardens: A new character is planned for every Episode, totaling 7 for the year.
• New Maps: Three new maps are scheduled for release in Episodes 2, 4, and 6.
• Steady Stream of Gear: Regular additions of new weapons, mods, bases, amulets, mounts, and raid tools.
• Key Milestones: Ranked Mode is set to launch in February 2026 (Episode 2), a Limited-Time Mode is planned for Episode 4, and the studio has teased "surprises" for the final Episodes of the year.

Launching on the Right Foot: Content and Immediate Support

Highguard’s planned launch on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S was designed to demonstrate this new philosophy in action. The substantial launch content—8 Wardens, 5 maps, 6 bases, and more—is intended to provide immediate depth, avoiding the "content-light" criticism that can plague live service launches. More importantly, the support infrastructure is being prepared to be in motion from day one.

The developers have outlined a plan for immediate post-launch support, including a targeted patch to address stability and crashing issues planned for the day after launch. This swift response is designed as a clear signal that the studio will be monitoring and ready to support the game from minute one. Furthermore, the developers have revealed they are already playtesting additional, unannounced Wardens, proving that development is proactively ahead of the public schedule. This forward momentum is the antithesis of the reactive scramble they aim to avoid.

Highguard represents a compelling maturation of the live service model, led by developers who have intimately lived through its most painful growing pains. It is a project defined not by hubris, but by humility—a direct and deliberate correction of the past. The true test will come in the execution of its ambitious 2026 roadmap and its ability to maintain quality at a rapid pace.

Yet, its foundational strategy is already distinguished by a level of preparedness and clear vision that was hard-won through previous trial by fire. In an industry where live service games often launch as promises, Highguard is being built to launch as a plan. If Wildlight succeeds, Highguard won't just be a successful game—it could serve as a blueprint for how to launch a live service with integrity, proving that the most important post-launch content is the plan you have before you hit 'release.'