Wildlight Entertainment is doubling down on Highguard's future, even as the free-to-play hero shooter grapples with plummeting player counts and a skeleton crew post-layoffs. In a Twitter post on February 18th, 2026, the studio revealed a content-focused update arriving this week, with no exact date yet. The update is bringing fresh maps, tools, and cosmetics to keep the lights on.
The patch centers on Cloudreach, a new base perched on a massive airship overlooking a sprawling vista. The Anchor Stone sits in the cargo hold, with an expansive deck offering sniper perches and quick access to dual generator rooms for CQC chaos. Defenders gain elevation advantages, but attackers can flank through dynamic paths that echo Highguard's asymmetric design philosophy.
A standout addition is the Lockpick raid tool: a dart-firing gadget that breaches doors/windows, temporarily disabling them for enemies and seizing control. Swap it in loadouts or loot from red chests and darts as a new ammo type promise tactical shifts in Raid mode's objective pushes. Trader Flynn's store expands to seven weekly items (up from five), headlined by a new mount with four variants and four bundles. These cosmetics aim to entice spenders amid monetization critiques.
A second patch is also in the works for the game: a Raid-focused mode with weapon balances and tweaks. No timeline, but Wildlight's commitment shines through the post-Feb 11 layoffs, where "most of the team" was cut (core team remains, per spokesperson).
Highguard's January 26th launch followed a Game Awards 2025 TGA finale reveal, hyped by Apex/CoD vets. It peaked at 97,249 Steam concurrents day one but cratered: current 24h peak ~1,206, averages <1k. Steam reviews: Mixed (46% positive, 29k+). I personally gave it a 7/10 as it was decently fun but needed quite a bit of work. There has also been many things going wrong for the game. Mainly issues on launch: 3v3 maps felt cramped (prompt 5v5 permanent mode); bugs, matchmaking. Layoffs hit days later after launch from LinkedIn posts from devs like Alex Graner ("most of the team") confirmed. Website blackout fueled shutdown fears; dev clarified: migration/simplification, low priority amid updates. Wildlight (51-200 staff pre-layoffs) was rumored to be backed by TiMi (Tencent) so there are funding questions swirling around while it collapses.
Highguard's 5v5 raids (secure Anchor Stone, defend gens) shine in bursts, but hero shooter fatigue (the Concord effect) and small maps probably doomed retention. Updates like Cloudreach (verticality) and Lockpick (breach tactics) target complaints, but viability hinges on player return.
Despite all of these things, Highguard is still persisting and around for players to play. The servers are live and free to play. Will this grit pay off for the game in the long run or will it eventually crash and burn? Let us know what your thoughts on the game are in the comments section below! As always, stay tuned to Gamefragger.com for more video game updates as we get them!
From the creators of Apex Legends and Titanfall, comes Highguard: a PvP raid shooter where players will ride, fight, and raid as Wardens, arcane gunslingers sent to battle for control of a mythical continent. There they'll clash against rival Warden crews for possession of the Shieldbreaker, then break into and destroy the enemy base to secure territory in this all-new breed of shooter.