The clock ticked down, my squad was pinned, and the enemy team was bearing down hard in *Highguard*. Just when hope seemed lost, a teammate popped a legendary skin, a visual flex that somehow rallied our spirits. It wasn’t just about aesthetics; it was about the psychological edge, and Wildlight Entertainment seems to understand that implicitly.
Highguard‘s Ambitious Launch Strategy
Think about those moments when a new game drops, and you’re immediately bombarded with pay-to-win schemes and limited-time offers designed to drain your wallet. Highguard takes a different approach, launching with a free battle pass, called a Warchest, for all players.
This free Warchest includes 44 items, among them 11 legendary skins and various cosmetics for characters, mounts, and weapons. This approach is a bold statement: content is the centerpiece, not predatory monetization.
How much will future Highguard Warchests cost?
Wildlight Entertainment isn’t giving everything away, of course. I learned at a pre-release event that subsequent Warchests will be priced around $9 (€8.30).
Here’s the kicker: these Warchests will never expire. Once you purchase a Warchest, the rewards are yours to keep. This permanent ownership model is a welcome change from the FOMO-inducing tactics often employed in live-service games. Highguard refers to its seasons as Episodes.
According to Dusty Welch, Wildlight co-founder and CEO, the studio is committed to building a long-lasting franchise. “Success for us is a healthy, growing global community that’s enjoying the game—and a team that’s energized by engaging with players and surprising them with new experiences over time,” Welch stated. This suggests a player-first mentality.
What’s Coming After Launch?
I remember playing a game that promised consistent updates, only to be abandoned months later. Highguard is trying to get ahead of this trend.
Two weeks post-launch, the first Episode kicks off, introducing a new character, map, mount type, and a ranked mode. After that, players can expect fresh content monthly. Wildlight claims content is mapped through the end of 2026.
Episodes span two months, delivering monthly updates with characters, maps, bases, modes, weapons, and more. The in-game shop features cosmetic items only, capped at $20 (€18.50).
How is Wildlight Entertainment approaching live-service?
Welch emphasized their focus on building a sustainable live-service model from the ground up, indicating significant investment in the game’s long-term roadmap. Think of it as constructing a skyscraper versus a sandcastle: one is built for permanence, the other for fleeting appeal.
Final Verdict
Highguard is available for free on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. Wildlight Entertainment is hoping to carve out a long-term spot in the competitive PvP shooter space.
For more on Highguard, check out Moyens I/O’s coverage here:
- What is Highguard? ‘PvP raid shooter’ from ex-Apex Legends devs, explained
- All playable characters in Highguard – All Wardens and their abilities
- All weapons in Highguard – Full list of guns
- How to use mounts in Highguard – List of mount types
The game’s free-to-play entry point and promise of non-expiring content could be a potent combination, but will it be enough to stand out in a crowded genre, or will it fade into obscurity?