Following player feedback, developer Wildlight Entertainment has permanently added 5v5 Raid Mode to Highguard. While the game has only been out for around a week, the player count has plummeted by over 80% since launch. Time will tell if this new change can help bring players back to Highguard.
As the last big announcement at The Game Awards 2025, Highguard was seen by millions of gamers around the world. Unfortunately, the initial reception to the game was mixed at best. Many gamers were disappointed that the spotlight at the end of one of the biggest gaming events of the year was given to a live-service game. The controversy was compounded as some believed the PvP raid shooter could fail like PlayStation's Concord. Nevertheless, Highguard was released on January 26, with many players sharing their opinions about the shooter online. One common criticism was that the matches felt empty due to there only being a 3v3 option. Fortunately, Wildlight Entertainment has heard the complaints and made a change.
10 Features Highguard Desperately Needs Right Now
Highguard needs these updates if it wants to challenge the big hero shooters that dominate the gaming scene.
Highguard Makes 5v5 Raid Mode Permament
In a social media post, the developer has revealed that 5v5 Raid Mode has been permanently added, offering another option for players who want more action. This news comes after the mode had been added for a limited time as part of an experimental playlist for Highguard. According to Wildlight Entertainment, that test was successful, with a “fairly even split” between 3v3 and 5v5 modes over the weekend. This influenced the decision to make the new mode permanent. “You've been asking, and we're happy to share—5v5 Raid Mode is here to stay,” the developer post said.
Unsurprisingly, reception to this change has been largely positive from the community. Players have posted their opinions on Reddit and even in recent Steam reviews, noting their preference for 5v5 matches. Among the comments, many enjoyed the larger team size for casual matches, noting that it provided more action. However, others suggested that Wildlight Entertainment should keep its Competitive playlist as 3v3 when it releases in the future. That being said, others hoped the developer would offer 3v3 and 5v5 options for Competitive as well.
It will be interesting to see the impact a permament 5v5 mode has on Highguard in the coming weeks. While the reception has been positive, it might take more than a new mode to increase the player count in a significant way. At the time of writing, the game has 8,318 players on Steam, according to SteamDB data. This is drastically less than the all-time peak of 97,249 players following the game's launch. It is worth pointing out that Highguard is available on Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5, so the total player count could be somewhat higher. Regardless, the game has lost a significant number of players shortly after launch.
Despite this discouraging player count data, Wildlight Entertainment has big plans for the game in the weeks ahead. The developer has already released a post-launch roadmap for Highguard, giving players an idea of what to expect. Specifically, content will be released in episodes, extending throughout 2026. These episodes will include new Wardens, bases, weapons, mods, and more.
Who’s That Character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
While Highgaurd has faced negativity around launch, the developer appears committed to supporting the game throughout the remainder of the year, at the very least. Additionally, it is nice to see the game receive quick changes to address fan feedback. It will be interesting to see what other tweaks are made to Highguard and if they can help increase its popularity.
Highguard
- Released
- January 26, 2026
- Developer(s)
- Wildlight Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- Wildlight Entertainment
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Cross-Platform Play
- Full
WHERE TO PLAY
From the creators of Apex Legends and Titanfall, comes Highguard: a PvP raid shooter where players will ride, fight, and raid as Wardens, arcane gunslingers sent to fight for control of a mythical continent.
- Number of Players
- Single-player
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Unknown
- PC Release Date
- January 26, 2026
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- January 26, 2026
- PS5 Release Date
- January 26, 2026
- Genre(s)
- FPS, Action, Multiplayer
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
