Wildlight Entertainment Emerges from Stealth with Ambitious PvP Shooter
Image: Wildlight Entertainment / YouTube
The minds behind some of the most influential shooters of the past decade are back with a new project. Highguard, a free-to-play PvP raid shooter from newly formed studio Wildlight Entertainment, launches on January 26, 2026 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
The game was revealed as the closing announcement at The Game Awards 2025, with host Geoff Keighley introducing the project that Wildlight has been developing in secret for four years.
What is Highguard?
Highguard blends team-based PvP combat with raid-style gameplay. Players take on the role of Wardens, arcane gunslingers fighting for control of a mythical continent. Each match unfolds in multiple phases.
The first phase involves standard PvP combat as teams battle to secure an artifact called the Shieldbreaker. Once a team captures it, the game transforms into something different entirely. The attacking team must push into the enemy base and destroy it, while defenders scramble to hold them off.
This blend of objective-based combat and base destruction creates a unique rhythm that sets Highguard apart from traditional hero shooters.
Movement and Combat
Wildlight has incorporated movement mechanics that veteran Titanfall players will immediately recognize. Wall-running returns, allowing Wardens to traverse vertical spaces with fluid momentum. The game also introduces wall-busting, letting players create new paths through destructible environments.
Each Warden brings unique supernatural abilities to the battlefield. The reveal trailer showcased a variety of powers: one character launches forward with devastating claw attacks, another sends shockwaves with a massive hammer, and a particularly menacing Warden can literally rip out enemy hearts. Ultimate abilities add another layer, with one character shown flying overhead while raining down lightning bolts.
Mounts are available for quick traversal between objectives across the larger maps.
The Team Behind It
Wildlight Entertainment was founded in 2021 by industry veterans with serious credentials:
- Chad Grenier - 12 years at Respawn Entertainment, served as game director
- Dusty Welch - Former COO of Respawn and General Manager of the Apex Legends team
- Jason McCord - Design director on Apex Legends, previously level designer for Call of Duty
The studio counts 61 former Respawn team members among its ranks, bringing collective experience from Titanfall, Titanfall 2, and Apex Legends.
Free-to-Play with Full Cross-Platform Support
Highguard launches as a complete free-to-play experience with no early access period. The game includes full cross-play and cross-progression across all platforms from day one. Indian players on PlayStation can squad up with friends on PC or Xbox without restrictions.
The monetization model has not been detailed, but Wildlight has confirmed that competitive gameplay will not be locked behind paywalls.
What Indian Gamers Should Know
With servers launching globally on January 26, Indian players will be able to jump in from day one. The free-to-play model removes any financial barrier to entry, and cross-platform support means the player population should remain healthy regardless of which platform you choose.
The game requires a stable internet connection for its multiplayer focus. Specific server locations for South Asia have not been announced, but cross-play typically ensures matchmaking remains viable.
For fans of Apex Legends or Titanfall who have been waiting for something new from those developers, Highguard represents their first independent project since leaving Respawn.
The reveal trailer has generated significant discussion online. While some players are excited about the pedigree of the development team, others remain cautious about another free-to-play hero shooter entering an already crowded market. Wildlight will need to demonstrate what makes Highguard's raid mechanics compelling enough to stand out.
January 26, 2026 will reveal whether the Titanfall and Apex veterans can recapture that magic with their own studio.
