Highguard’s Unexpected 5v5 Mode Will Remain, Yet It Falls Short

Highguard’s new 5v5 mode, which debuted as a temporary feature over the weekend, has officially become a permanent addition to the free-to-play raid shooter. While this new mode is an improvement over the previous 3v3 setup, I’m not entirely convinced it’s enough to turn the game around.

On January 30, following some anticipation, the developers announced that a 5v5 mode would be introduced based on player feedback indicating that the original 3v3 format lacked excitement. Initially branded as a “limited time mode,” the overwhelming positive response from players has led to its permanent inclusion alongside the existing 3v3 mode.

“You’ve been asking, and we’re happy to share—5v5 Raid Mode is here to stay,” the official Twitter account stated. “We appreciate everyone hopping in over the weekend to give the mode a try. We saw a fairly even split between 3v3 and 5v5, which helped inform our decision.”

Kudos to the developers for rolling out the 5v5 mode so quickly after the game’s January 26 launch. After diving into a few matches, I can say it enhances the gameplay experience. The increased player count leads to more frequent skirmishes before the shieldbreaker spawns, making raids feel larger and more chaotic. However, this also resulted in some performance hiccups during intense battles, which the developers had warned about. It’s crucial that performance issues are addressed in 5v5 matches, as this mode is clearly the most enjoyable way to experience Highguard and arguably should have been the main focus from the start.

That said, I’m not claiming that Highguard has suddenly transformed into a must-play title. Many of its underlying issues remain unresolved by simply adding more players. The game still suffers from too many competing mechanics, lackluster visuals, uninspired heroes, overly intense combat for casual gamers, and a loot collection system that isn’t engaging. While 5v5 does enhance the fun factor, it doesn’t rectify these core problems.

I suspect this new mode will be enough to keep Highguard afloat for a while, potentially avoiding the same fate as other titles. However, I’m not entirely sure it’s what the gaming world needed—another online-only team-based PVP hero shooter, even with the addition of 10 players per match.