Highguard Raid Rush: Massive 5v5 Combat Overhaul Out Feb 27
In January 2026, it looked like Highguard was a certified hit with nearly 100,000 players. Today, that number has cratered by 99%. With developer Wildlight Entertainment reeling following recent layoffs, the February 27 Raid Rush update is a desperate attempt to keep the game online.
Video game history is littered with Titanfall killers and Apex clones, but Highguard was supposed to be different.
Developed by the very architects of those legendary shooters, it launched with a massive wave of hype and a unique “extraction-meets-base-siege” loop. However, the honeymoon ended almost instantly.
By mid-February, the “standard store cost” of entry, which remains Free-to-Play, couldn’t stop the exodus. With concurrent player counts on Steam dipping below the 600-mark, the community feared the worst.
Now, Wildlight is swinging back. The Raid Rush mode launching February 27 represents a radical pivot. By cutting the bloat, shrinking the team sizes to 5v5, and removing the looting phase entirely, the developers are attempting to turn Highguard into the pure, high-octane combat they are known for.
👉 READ ALSO: Is Highguard Dying?
The Raid Rush Revolution: Can 5v5 Fix Highguard?
The community spent weeks shouting about “oversized maps” and “boring looting loops.” Wildlight actually listened. The new Raid Rush mode strips away the tedious inventory management that killed the game’s momentum.
Now, it’s pure 5v5 aggression. You aren’t hunting for scrap for twenty minutes, but engaging in tight, round-based combat.
Between skirmishes, you visit Trader Flynn to buy upgrades, keeping the focus entirely on the gunplay. It transforms Highguard from a wandering loot simulator into an all-out action shooter that finally highlights its world-class movement mechanics.
A Studio on the Brink: Layoffs and the Skeleton Crew?
This update comes after February layoffs at Wildlight, which were a gut punch, followed by a brief website “blackout” that had fans fearing the worst.
While the studio is clearly operating with a reduced workforce, they are sticking to the 2026 roadmap with a grim determination.
The core team is still shipping content, but the pressure is mounting as Highguard continues to bleed players. Every update now has to do the work of ten to convince a skeptical audience that the servers won’t vanish overnight.
Is it Too Late to Join the Raid?
Is Highguard worth the hard drive space right now? If you’ve been sitting on the fence, the entry cost is still zero. While the Wayfinder Bundle carries a premium retail price for those wanting to bankroll the devs, the base game remains free-to-play.
Raid Rush is the most fun this game has ever been. If the 5v5 shift doesn’t bring back the crowds soon, you might be playing against the same three squads all night.
Fueled by a passion for gaming and the ever-evolving world of gaming news, Daniel loves connecting with seasoned and new players to bring games to life on the page, exploring their narratives and gaming trends. A self-published fiction and fantasy author, Daniel has nearly 20 years of experience writing gaming news and a love for storytelling that drives his enthusiasm to deliver breaking news, in-depth analysis, and industry innovations. You will find him in-game as "Windfell."
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