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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Highguard was a free-to-play 3v3 PvP raid shooter from Wildlight Entertainment, built around gathering resources, contesting an objective called the Shieldbreaker, and attacking an enemy base. Wildlight announced that the game would permanently shut down on March 12, 2026. That date is historical; the current server state has not been independently verified here, so old store listings should not be taken as proof that Highguard is playable now.
What was Highguard?
Highguard was a team-based PvP shooter developed and published by Wildlight Entertainment. Wildlight announced it as a free-to-play game for PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5, with cross-play across platforms. The PlayStation Store described its characters as Wardens—arcane gunslingers fighting for territory on a mythical continent.
Its central idea was to combine direct team combat with a raid objective: instead of only fighting over eliminations or a fixed control point, teams gathered resources, improved their arsenal, and tried to breach and destroy the opposing side’s base.
How did a Highguard match work?
Matches were built for two teams of three. The advertised sequence moved from preparing and strengthening a base to gathering supplies, fighting for the Shieldbreaker, and launching a raid. Mounts offered a way to traverse the map, while fortification and base attacks added a defensive layer to the team-fight format.
#1 Best Overall
- Secure a base. Each team began with a base to defend and eventually attack from.
- Gather resources and upgrade. Players rode out to collect resources and improve their arsenal before or during clashes with the opposing crew.
- Contest the Shieldbreaker. Teams fought over the item needed to breach the opponent’s defenses.
- Carry it to the enemy base. Delivering the Shieldbreaker removed the base’s shields, opening the way for an attack.
- Raid the exposed base. The attacking team then tried to destroy it, while opponents could resist and defend.
This structure was the game’s defining distinction from a conventional round-based shooter: resource gathering and traversal fed into a contested objective, which in turn enabled a base raid. Wildlight co-founder and game director Chad Grenier described the design as “a loop that doesn’t really exist anywhere else,” a statement of the developer’s intent rather than an independent assessment of how well the loop worked.
Was Highguard free, and how was it monetized?
At launch, Wildlight called Highguard free-to-play and said gameplay content would be free, with monetization limited to cosmetics. Its launch press release described purchases as direct cosmetic purchases, with no gameplay effect, loot boxes, or random outcomes. Those were the studio’s launch-era commitments; they do not establish what any current store or service offers after the announced shutdown.
Is Highguard still playable?
Wildlight announced on March 3, 2026, that Highguard would permanently shut down on March 12, 2026. The studio said it had not built a sustainable player base to support the game long term. The announcement also said a final update would add a Warden, a weapon, account progression, and skill trees.
That announcement establishes the planned closure date, but it does not independently confirm the live server state today. No current primary status check is established here. If you are trying to play, check for a current statement from Wildlight or the relevant platform before treating an old store page or launch article as evidence of availability.
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What did Wildlight say about the player base?
In the March 3 shutdown announcement, Wildlight said more than 2 million players had entered Highguard since launch. That is a developer-reported cumulative count, not an independently audited measure of concurrent players, active users, or retention; it should not be read as evidence that the game maintained a large active community.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is the verdict on Highguard?
As a concept, Highguard stood apart through its combination of three-player squad combat, resource gathering, traversal, base defense, and raids enabled by the Shieldbreaker. Its free-to-play launch and stated cosmetic-only monetization were part of the original offer. But a retrospective review has to weigh the game’s short-lived service: Wildlight announced a permanent shutdown date of March 12, 2026, and current playability is not independently confirmed here. It is best understood as a distinctive live-service experiment that is no longer a dependable recommendation to start playing.
Rank #4
Sources: Wildlight’s launch announcement via TriplePoint Newsroom; PlayStation Store listing; community post reproducing Wildlight’s March 3 shutdown statement; Xbox Wire launch feature; Wildlight launch press release.
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