5 issues it wants to enhance on

In just some weeks, Highguard has gained loads of followers and detractors for numerous causes. Developed by Wildlight Leisure and free to play on PlayStation 5, Xbox Collection S/X, and PC since January 26, the 3v3 PvP free-to-play raid shooter has gamers develop into ‘wardens’ with a view to loot and shoot till one staff wins a match.

Together with many gamers’ experiences, I’ve had moments when becoming a member of a match failed, or once we obtained in-game, the matchmaking left quite a bit to be desired. Some have slower connections, leading to disconnects, otherwise you’re left ready as much as 10 minutes for one more staff to be discovered.

It is a simple request: Highguard wants some massive enhancements in the way it finds matches and matches gamers with their ability base, web speeds, and extra. Contemplating some builders come from Respawn Leisure, recognized for the Titanfall video games, there’s no excuse as to why matchmaking feels below-par in Highguard.

Accumulating Vesper, Highguard’s in-game forex, appears like a chore. Earlier than you take into account methods of defeating the opposing staff, you’re excited about the place Vesper is with a view to purchase ammo, armour, and extra. It will get to the purpose the place Highguard appears like a farming simulator, as an alternative of an internet PvP raid shooter.

A most important enchancment can be to boost the quantity of Vesper collected – this fashion, gamers can top off faster with out it feeling like a chore, in an identical vein to accumulating gold in Fortnite. Highguard is all about defeating the opposite staff in a wide range of methods throughout a number of maps – it’s not about farming, and it shouldn’t be. If this one enchancment is made, it could lead to a extra pleasurable recreation total.

It’s a wierd omission that you would be able to’t look again in your earlier playthrough stats. With eight wardens to select from, every with their distinctive skills, in addition to the totally different weapons to make use of, it could be an enormous assist in case you might see who you’re utilizing essentially the most, in addition to the quantity of loot and ammo we’re accumulating and spending up to now.

It could be a good way to construct in your abilities, providing you with a transparent construction for which wardens and weapons are working and which you need to go away nicely alone. This is also nice for when matchmaking with different gamers, serving to the sport itself when establishing a match.

Since Highguard’s launch on January 26, gamers might solely take part 3v3 matches. It felt too small given the dimensions of the obtainable maps. On February 2, Wildlight raised this to 5v5, which has made loads of matches extra diversified and enjoyable, however the builders can go even additional.

12v12 matches might ramp up the motion and pleasure of what Highguard brings. We’ve seen Dota 2 and others do comparable, and so they’ve benefited vastly. The sheer scope of Rivermark and Summit can actually maintain 24 gamers directly. Whereas this may occasionally terrify Wildlight, contemplating the poor matchmaking and disconnects, elevating the participant quantity much more might construct on Highguard’s enjoyable area of interest much more. 

In 2026, gamers wish to comply with together with a narrative that may make them extra invested in what they’re enjoying. Free-to-play video games like Fortnite and PUBG have compelling narratives which have opened the door for some distinctive collabs, like The Simpsons and South Park. Even Name of Responsibility: Warzone has a easy story that gamers sustain with.

However in Highguard, there’s nothing. the fundamentals of what you might want to do in each match, which is to play as a warden and safe your stronghold with a staff. It could be nice to ascertain a number of story beats that outline who these wardens are and what the panorama is all about.

Though we haven’t reached a month with Highguard being obtainable, there’s plenty of promise. The sport is enjoyable to play, with nice weapons and large maps that carry loads of selection to the shooter. However there’s quite a bit that desperately wants one other look, from the Vesper farming, the poor matchmaking, and a scarcity of narrative.

In hindsight, it’s clear that Highguard had a deadline to satisfy, and no matter the place the staff at Wildlight was, the sport was going to be out on January 26, it doesn’t matter what. Within the sea of free-to-play video games, Highguard has a uncommon area of interest the place gamers need it to be good. Hopefully, we’ll see a few of the above enhancements sooner, slightly than later.