The Game Awards host Geoff Keighley has finally been toppled, at least in the marketing realm, as the team behind Highguard, a fresh “PvP raid shooter” by former Titanfall and Apex Legends developers, steps into the spotlight. This exciting announcement comes just over a month after it was first revealed during Keighley’s 2025 awards ceremony. Mark your calendars—Highguard is slated for a launch showcase on Monday, January 26, coinciding perfectly with its release date.
Highguard’s official social media channels sprang back to life today, exactly 43 days after that dramatic Game Awards reveal, to unveil the details of the upcoming showcase. “Join us for an in-depth look at Highguard directly from the studio—featuring a full gameplay deep dive, year one plans, and much more,” the folks at Wildlight Entertainment noted. With those year one plans hinted at, it’s clear they have a grand vision for this title.
For those who might need a refresher, Highguard is a PvP shooter where squads of “Wardens” wield sci-fantasy weaponry to blast each other and vie for control of the “Shieldbreaker.” The goal? Break into and obliterate the enemy base to secure territory. As the trailer highlights, destructible environments play a huge role in gameplay. Beyond what’s visible in the footage, I’ve managed to dig through some PS5 trophies that reveal a few more juicy details: it looks like there will be a raid mode, a revive system, Warden classes like “Assault” and “Defensive,” overtime rules, weapons such as “the BigRig LMG,” gear tiers that ascend to at least Legendary, and matches that can wrap up in as little as 10 minutes.
From its inception, Highguard has adopted a stealthy launch strategy reminiscent of its sibling, Apex Legends (even if prior leaks did create a few ripples). This time, though, there’s a solid six weeks between its reveal and release, allowing plenty of time for the online chatter to swell— and, boy, has it! Certain corners of the internet have dedicated time to dissecting everything from “Concord 2” to branding it an “Overwatch clone.”
If you dare to tread into the Steam discussion page for Highguard, be prepared. It currently stands as one of the most bewildering arenas online. It’s like staring directly at a solar eclipse. Opinions vary wildly: “When will we learn?” lament the jaded hero shooter fans; while hopeful souls counter with, “Why the hate?” Anarchists pipe in with “Please flop,” and one user, seemingly oblivious to IP rights, questions, “Why not just make Titanfall 3?” Others speculate, “What if this game doesn’t even exist?”
This blend of cautious optimism from eager fans and understandable live service fatigue has clashed with over-the-top doomsayers dreaming up dystopian scenarios. You’ve got a whirlwind of mixed sentiments that just churn and spin without resolution.
As for myself, I often find it easier to judge a book by its cover— especially when sifting through the dark fantasy genre—but I’m prepared to make an exception for Highguard. I’m genuinely eager to see how it plays out in real-time, rather than just in trailers. Soon enough, we won’t just be guessing at what it is; we’ll get to see it in action and maybe even get our hands on it.
Here’s to seeing what 2026 has in store as more exciting titles roll in!