Highguard Defies Shutdown Rumors with New Content Update

It has been a turbulent stretch for Highguard and its developer, Wildlight Entertainment. Following a recent wave of layoffs, a departing staffer publicly attributed the game’s rocky debut in part to the player base, sparking immediate friction. Adding to the controversy are reports alleging that the project received clandestine financial backing from Chinese tech giant Tencent. With the official website currently inaccessible and the studio’s PR team maintaining radio silence—despite one employee acknowledging on Discord that the brand has suffered “reputational damage”—the situation remains tense. However, Wildlight is attempting to shift the narrative by announcing a content update slated for “later this week,” alongside news that a fresh game mode is already in development.

“This patch is purely content focused, with a brand new Base and a powerful new Raid Tool added to the game, along with new offerings in the Store,” the studio announced via a post on X.

The update’s primary highlight is Cloudreach, a massive “fortified airship” that serves as a new base. The layout features high-altitude perches for sharpshooters and an intricate ventilation system that players can use for stealthy infiltration—or for lobbing explosives into unsuspecting groups. Complementing this is the Lockpick, a tactical Raid Tool that fires specialized darts to temporarily disable electronic locks on doors and windows. Beyond its utility in breaching, the tool leaves behind a lingering energy field; this zone grants allies a significant speed boost while simultaneously slowing, damaging, and marking enemy players caught within its radius. Players can also expect new cosmetic bundles and the introduction of the Moonbruin, a formidable mount resembling an owlbear.

While Wildlight stopped short of providing a specific launch time, the “later this week” window suggests an arrival by Saturday. The studio is also looking further ahead, teasing a subsequent update that aims to redefine the core raiding experience. “We are also working on our next patch, in which we aim to bring a new game mode focused on the Raid experience, as well as some balance adjustments to weapons, among other things,” the developer noted. For now, official patch notes and a firm release date for the upcoming game mode remain under wraps.

Source: Polygon