The clock ticked down, each second an echo in the sudden quiet of the office. Around you, the team at Wildlight Entertainment held their breath, the culmination of years of work balanced on the knife’s edge of server stability. January 26, 2026: the day Highguard either soared or stumbled.
After its grand reveal at The Game Awards 2025, the studio took a step back, leaving fans hungry for details about this intriguing PvP raid shooter. Now, whispers are turning into anticipation, especially among those who remember the magic crafted by Wildlight’s developers on titles like Apex Legends and Titanfall. The silence is broken; launch day is here.
If you’re like me, you’ve marked your calendar and are ready to jump into the mythical world of Highguard. Let’s make sure you know exactly when you can start playing.
Highguard Release: Your Time Zone is the Key
I remember waiting for Destiny 2 to drop. The agonizing wait until midnight felt like an eternity. Highguard is launching on Monday, January 26, 2026, globally. If you haven’t already, head over to Steam, PlayStation 5, or Xbox Series X|S to wishlist the game. While pre-loads haven’t been announced yet, keeping an eye on those storefronts is your best bet for any last-minute news.
To pinpoint your exact launch time, see the breakdown below:
| Region | Release Time |
|---|---|
| US East (ET) | 1 PM (January 26) |
| US Pacific (PT) | 10 AM (January 26) |
| US Central (CT) | 12 PM (January 26) |
| US Mountain (MT) | 11 AM (January 26) |
| UK (GMT) | 6 PM (January 26) |
| Europe (CET) | 7 PM (January 26) |
| Middle East (GST) | 10 PM (January 26) |
| India (IST) | 11:30 PM (January 26) |
| China (CST) | 2 AM (January 27) |
| Japan (JST) | 3 AM (January 27) |
| Australia (AEST) | 4 AM (January 27) |
| New Zealand (NZST) | 7 AM (January 27) |
Will Highguard Have Crossplay?
Crossplay functionality hasn’t been officially confirmed, and if it is, the developers haven’t said anything about it. However, considering the growing trend toward cross-platform play and Wildlight’s pedigree, it’s a feature many hope to see down the line. Keep an eye on official announcements post-launch for any news. In the meantime, make sure your friends are on the same platform if you want to play together on day one!
Your Highguard Countdown Timer is Here
Let’s be real: time zone math can be a headache. To simplify things, I’ve included a countdown timer below. Consider it your personal hype-generator, ticking away until you can finally enter the world of Highguard.
Highguard is out now!
What is the File Size for Highguard?
Since pre-loads aren’t available, knowing the file size beforehand is tough. I would suggest clearing at least 75GB of space, just to be safe. Keep an eye on the Highguard Discord, Reddit, or X (formerly Twitter) for any last minute announcements.
Maximize Your Highguard Launch Day
No pre-load means you’ll be hitting that download button as soon as the servers go live. While you wait, tune into the gameplay stream on Highguard’s official YouTube channel. Getting some insights from the dev team and content creators is a smart move.
Also, rumors are circulating about a leaked trophy list that could give you hints about the game’s secrets. Wildlight has also promised news regarding their year-one plans, detailing how Highguard will evolve and grow. The architecture of a live-service game is like a constantly expanding city; there are always new districts being planned.
Will Highguard be Free-to-Play?
Currently, the business model for Highguard hasn’t been specifically clarified. The industry tends toward free-to-play with microtransactions or a one-time purchase model. Since you can wishlist the game on Steam, PS5, and XBOX, I’d anticipate that the game will be a one-time purchase.
Is Highguard’s arrival going to redefine the PvP raid shooter?