New Shooter Highguard Set to Launch in January 2026, Aiming to Innovate the Genre

Geoff Keighley wrapped up the action-packed Game Awards 2025 with an exciting reveal: a brand new multiplayer free-to-play FPS called Highguard, developed by a team of 61 former Respawn members who worked on Apex Legends. This title, from the newly formed WildLight Entertainment, aims to “push the shooter genre forward” and is set to launch on Steam, PS5, and Xbox on January 26.

The announcement trailer showcases a vibrant cast of heroes engaging in intense battles, both on foot and mounted, featuring a mix of melee weapons like hammers and guns, alongside supernatural abilities. Among the chaos, we catch glimpses of an ice wall, red orbs, hammers reminiscent of Thor’s, and a massive sword, all of which seem integral to the gameplay.

While the specifics are a bit murky, it appears there are elements of classic area capture gameplay, possibly reminiscent of Overwatch’s payload mode, along with hints of a king of the hill style. One standout feature is a giant tank with a cat head that appears to be summoned when players drive that massive sword into the ground. Check it out for yourself:

Despite branding itself as “a new breed of shooter,” Highguard does share some visual similarities with existing titles, but it’s likely that more unique features will be unveiled as the launch date approaches. With less than two months to go, we might soon see some major reveals.

In the meantime, here are the best FPS games you can dive into right now.

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