Highguard, the new FPS from former Apex Legends and Titanfall devs, hits Steam after weeks of teasing silence

Created by former developers of Apex Legends and Titanfall, Highguard was the final game announced during December 2025’s Keighley Awards. It’s a free-to-play, guns & sorcery, PvP raid shooter in which magic cowboys in capes vie for control of an uncharted continent. It’s got temples, airships, rideable panthers, fireballs, frost giants, and enchanted siege engines on caterpillar tracks. It’s also out now on Steam. That was quick.

Highguard has kindled a lot of curiosity by having almost zero marketing – a pleasant reprieve from the usual drip-feed of pre-order bait that has provoked acute withdrawal symptoms among news writers addled by years of character spotlight trailers. Geoff Fest trailer aside, the game has cruised along on the strength of the following scanty Steam blurb: “From the creators of Apex Legends and Titanfall, comes Highguard: a PvP raid shooter where players will ride, fight, and raid as Wardens, arcane gunslingers sent to fight for control of a mythical continent. Battle rival Warden crews for possession of the Shieldbreaker, then break into and destroy the enemy base to secure territory in this all-new breed of shooter.”

I’m not particularly enticed by that elevator pitch, but I do like me a setting that can’t decide whether it’s Call Of Duty or God Of War. I also approve of the developer’s possibly calculated silence following the announcement, because it has really annoyed a lot of people and I am a deeply pathetic human being. Pranksters have sought to fill the breach: a fake Bluesky call for fan art last week attracted a few responses of the “I’m John Highguard” variety.

James included Highguard on his personal list of most anticipated PC games of 2026, despite observing of the aesthetic that “you could lose track of it in a bowl of porridge”. I’m a bit warmer on the visuals than James, but I can well imagine Highguard vanishing without trace. Still, I am also one of the many who didn’t see Helldivers 2 becoming more popular than bread. Perhaps we’ll look back on Highguard’s pre-launch period as a successful example of always leaving ‘em wanting more?