Highguard’s Launch Marred by Technical Glitches and PC Performance Issues

When The Game Awards 2025 wrapped up with a trailer for Highguard, a new FPS crafted by former Titanfall developers, it didn’t exactly set the internet ablaze. The ensuing weeks of silence only fueled speculation, debate, and skepticism. Now, after its launch, players can dive in and determine whether this game will be a hit or just another fleeting multiplayer experience like Concord. Initial feedback suggests it has potential, but many are facing hurdles like server queues, disconnects, and performance issues on both console and PC.

Highguard went live on January 26 across consoles and PC, generating a mix of confusion, curiosity, and some genuine excitement. The developers provided an in-depth look, describing the game as a 3v3 PvP “raid shooter.” This means it combines elements of Rainbow Six Siege’s base defense mechanics with MOBA-style team clashes, gear upgrades, and a climactic raid on an opponent’s base to determine the victor.

From my experience and what I’ve seen, it could be a blast. Early previews echo this sentiment, but I’m encountering performance issues on my RTX 5070 PC, even at medium settings with DLSS enabled. I’m not alone; many players are reporting similar struggles.

On the game’s subreddit, numerous players are voicing frustrations about Highguard’s performance, even with decent hardware. Some are also facing issues where game settings won’t save despite repeated attempts. Additionally, there’s a bug causing missing dialogue during the tutorial. On consoles, the absence of an FOV slider has sparked discontent, reminiscent of the backlash when Borderlands 4 launched without it. That game eventually added the feature, so it’ll be interesting to see if Highguard follows suit. Players are also noting that the game appears blurry on consoles, which could be a quicker fix.

Another issue likely to be resolved soon is the server queue problem, with players getting stuck or disconnected. With nearly 98,000 players attempting to access Highguard on Steam alone, according to SteamDB data, it’s clear the servers are struggling to handle the influx. While frustrating for gamers, it’s a good sign for the developers that so many are eager to play.

In contrast, Concord didn’t see such high player counts, failing to reach 1,000 concurrent players. Highguard has drawn frequent comparisons to that live-service misfire, which shut down less than a month after its lackluster launch. For now, it seems Highguard will be around a bit longer. Here’s hoping the technical issues and bugs get sorted out soon. The developers have confirmed they have about a year’s worth of content in the pipeline for Highguard, with regular updates expected, much like other live-service titles.

With its release, the usual chatter about whether it’s a “dead game” is sure to follow.