Highguard charges out of the gate today, and it wants the hero shooter crown. It is fast, bold, and free to play. It also asks PC players to pass a strict security check before they can even queue.
The Drop
Highguard is live now on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. The studio behind Titanfall and Apex Legends has built a fierce arena brawler with mounts, big lanes, and hard fights over territory. It was announced at The Game Awards 2025, and the pitch holds up in real play. This is character combat that never sits still.
Matches hinge on breaking lines and stealing ground. You spawn, mount up, and cross the map fast. Fights erupt around capture points and choke paths. Momentum matters. A lost duel can snowball, but a clutch mount sprint can flip a lane.
The Game, Up Close
Highguard’s heroes are readable and loud. Abilities are clear, cooldowns feel fair, and most kits lean on movement. You dash, leap, block, and deny space with simple tools that stack into smart team plays. The time to kill sits in a sweet spot. Bursts are lethal if you combo well. Solo ego runs still punish you quickly.
The mount system ties it all together. You do not just ride between fights. You bait chases, rotate past blind corners, and crash into points with speed buffs ready. It feels like a duel fighter and a lane runner in one suit, and the best squads chain that speed into clean collapses.
- What clicks right now:
- Traversal on mounts feels skillful, not just fast travel.
- Abilities layer into fights without clutter.
- Objectives force teams to move, not bunker.
On console, the haptics and frame pacing are strong. Controller aim assist is present but not overpowering. On PC, mouse tracking is crisp out of the box. The client boots fast, menus are light, and queue times have been healthy in our sessions.
The PC Gate You Must Clear
Here is the friction. On PC, Highguard requires Secure Boot, TPM 2.0, and Easy Anti-Cheat to run. If any of these are off, the game will stop at launch. For many Windows 11 rigs, this will be fine. For older boards, custom builds, or non‑Windows setups, this can be a wall on day one.
The check is strict. You cannot bypass it. If your BIOS has Secure Boot off, you must turn it on. If TPM is off or set to firmware mode, you must enable it. Then you install, launch, and let Easy Anti-Cheat do its work.
- Quick checklist before you queue on PC:
- Update your motherboard BIOS if it is years old.
- Enable TPM 2.0 in firmware settings.
- Enable Secure Boot, then reboot.
- Let Easy Anti-Cheat install fully on first launch.
If you changed boot settings before, write them down first. Take a photo of your BIOS pages so you can restore them if needed.
Changing firmware settings can lock encrypted drives if you are not prepared. Back up important files and note any recovery keys.
This setup talk is already shaping the first day story. Some players are in instantly. Others are learning the BIOS alphabet for the first time. The debate is the same one we have seen all generation. Strong anti-cheat promises cleaner matches, but it also narrows the door.
Players, Match Flow, and Early Meta
In match chat, console squads are learning routes while PC teams compare keybinds and mouse DPI. The map read is clear within a few rounds. You mount up, touch mid, then pivot to side lanes for flanks. Peels and stuns rule the first team fight. Vision control comes from height and mounts, not static recon.
Heroes with entry tools are early favorites. Gap closers set the pace. Shields have value, but pure turtle play folds once mounts rally behind you. Ultimates save fights, but the real wins come from smart rotations. If you rotate late, you lose the next 30 seconds.
Highguard also feels tuned for watchability. Abilities pop with clean effects. KOs are easy to track. The sound mix gives you clear tells for gap opens, point flips, and mount bursts. It is sweaty in a good way, and it respects your time.
Industry Context, Our Read
Hero shooters are crowded again. Overwatch still draws squads, Apex owns movement fights, Valorant owns tactical aim, and The Finals pushes destruction. Highguard stakes its claim on speed and territory. The mount system is the hook. The accessibility question sits on PC setup, not on skill jumps.
The business move is sharp. Launching free to play across current consoles and PC builds a wide base fast. The requirement wall trims that base on day one, but it also gives the studio a stronger stance against cheats. Ranked health often lives or dies on that choice.
Conclusion
Highguard arrives hot, confident, and different where it matters. The mounts change everything. The fights breathe. The objective play is loud and honest. On PC, the security gate will frustrate some players today, and it should not be ignored. If you can clear it, the ride is worth your time. If you cannot, hold for a setup guide from the team, then saddle up. The arena just opened, and the charge has already started.
