NZ180/5
IND56/2 (8.3/20 ov, target 181)
NAM156/2 (32/50 ov)
IRE
AVL
MNC
RAY
ELC
GMB
ZMB
NGA
LES
CAG
BOL
COMO
SAS
FCA
FCU
KOE
S04
MOZ19
UGA23/0 (0.5/20 ov, target 20)
Ipswich1
Nottm Forest1
Alavés1
Málaga1
Torino3
Monza2
WA
NSW371/8 (50 ov)
DEN
KUW
KENYA
QAT
SWD-W
EPR-W
TTN-W
WPR-W
NZ-A135/3 (41 ov)
IND-A113
DHA
RAJ
MYMS
CHATT
RAN
BAR
SYL
KHU
MEX-W
ARG-W
UAE
NED
PAK
ENG
IND-W
ZIM-W
AFG170/3 (34.3/50 ov, target 170)
ZIM169
CHE0
DYI0
CHO1
QIN0
HEN1
BEI0
LIA1
ZHE0
QWC1
YUN0
SHX0
Shanghai Shenh0
TIG0
SHP0
WTT1
SHT3
M05
SVW
RBL
ELV
Brest1
Nice2
Stuttgart2
Gladbach3
Al Ahli4
Al Khaleej1
The Game Awards 2025 delivered a stunning surprise: WildLight Entertainment unveiled Highguard, a PvP raid shooter from the creators of Apex Legends and Titanfall. The best part? It launches January 26, 2026.
What is Highguard? Apex Legends A New Breed of Shooter
Highguard is a free-to-play first-person shooter that blends arcane fantasy with high-octane PvP action. Players become Wardens—arcane gunslingers battling for control of a mythical continent. The gameplay merges mounted combat, hero abilities, and objective-based raiding into an entirely fresh competitive experience.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Developer | WildLight Entertainment (61 ex-Respawn devs) |
| Release Date | January 26, 2026 |
| Platforms | PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S |
| Genre | PvP Raid Shooter |
| Price | Free-to-Play |
| Features | Cross-play, Cross-progression |
The Team Behind the Magic
Founded in 2021 by 61 former Respawn Entertainment developers, WildLight Entertainment brings decades of shooter expertise. Co-founder Dusty Welch promises a universe of “epic scale,” while Game Director Chad Grenier emphasizes building “without compromise.”
Revolutionary Gameplay Features
The debut trailer showcased several innovative mechanics that set Highguard apart from traditional shooters:
Mount-Based Combat: Ride mystical creatures like horses into battle, shooting enemies while on the move—a unique twist that adds tactical mobility.
The Shieldbreaker: Teams compete for possession of this powerful artifact, which transforms into a massive battering ram capable of destroying enemy fortifications.
Hybrid Weaponry: Combine medieval melee weapons like swords and hammers with modern firearms and supernatural abilities for diverse combat styles.
Raid Mechanics: Breach and destroy enemy bases to capture territory, creating a dynamic objective-based gameplay loop that goes beyond simple elimination.
Will Highguard Dominate Esports?
Given the developers’ track record with the Apex Legends Global Series, speculation is rife about Highguard’s competitive potential. The game’s unique raid-shooter format could carve out its own niche, differentiating itself from battle royales like Fortnite and tactical shooters like VALORANT.
Final Verdict: A Game-Changer on the Horizon
With legendary developers and innovative mechanics, Highguard positions itself as 2026’s most anticipated shooter. Mark your calendars for January 26 and prepare to join the Wardens.
FAQs
Is Highguard really free-to-play?
What makes Highguard different from Apex Legends?
While both are developed by similar teams, Highguard takes a completely different approach. Instead of a battle royale format, it’s a PvP raid shooter with objective-based gameplay, mounted combat, fantasy elements, and base-raiding mechanics. Players fight in teams to capture territories and destroy enemy bases using the Shieldbreaker artifact, creating a more structured competitive experience compared to Apex’s last-team-standing gameplay.
