Highguard went live on Steam today as a free-to-play competitive shooter. Developer Possibility Space released an Official Launch Showcase video alongside the launch to explain the game’s phase-based structure and base-raiding mechanics.
The game runs on 3v3 matches where teams must destroy the opposing team’s base. This smaller team size sets it apart from typical base-raid shooters that usually feature much larger squads.
Each match cycles through distinct phases. Teams start by fortifying their base with defensive structures and walls. Then players spread across the map to loot chests and gather resources through mining nodes. The gathered currency lets players upgrade their gear through an in-match shop system.
The objective phase centers around a powerful item called the Stormbreaker. Teams fight for control of this sword-like weapon in open combat. The team that secures it gets to raid the enemy base while the other team defends. Siege mechanics like siege towers come into play during these raids.
If the attacking team destroys the base, they win. If the defenders hold them off, both teams get a brief restock window before the cycle repeats. Base health depletes across multiple raid attempts until one team breaks through.
Matches run anywhere from eight to 30 minutes depending on how many raid cycles it takes to finish. Players move around the large map using mounted horses to cover ground quickly between phases. Respawn timers sit at 15 to 20 seconds during normal play, but during extended raids, respawns lock until one team gets wiped.
The game hit Steam at approximately 1:00 PM EST with a roughly 20GB download. Early reports suggest strong initial player numbers, though the servers experienced some strain from the launch day traffic. Login queues formed as players rushed to try the new shooter.
