Highguard Launches Surprise 5v5 Weekend Mode Alongside New Soul Well Base
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Wildlight Entertainment has rolled out a surprise 5v5 weekend mode for its new hero shooter Highguard, complete with a new base called Soul Well and technical optimizations across platforms.
Wildlight Entertainment is wasting no time testing the limits of its new live-service hero shooter. As reported by Vikki Blake at Eurogamer, the studio has deployed a major update for Highguard that introduces a limited-time 5v5 mode available exclusively for the weekend. The playlist arrives alongside a brand new base called Soul Well, which has been added to the rotation for both standard 3v3 and the new 5v5 matches. To support the larger group sizes, party limits have been temporarily raised to five players, raid pools have been expanded to ten lives, and spawn timers have been adjusted to give teams more room to coordinate generator plays.
Developing a live-service game right out of the gate is always an uphill battle, especially for a new IP coming from former Titanfall and Apex Legends developers. Wildlight noted that this patch serves as the second major update during launch week, following a flurry of bug fixes and performance improvements. The studio has been transparent with its community about the technical realities of expanding player counts, noting that while the team has pushed out widespread optimizations for animation and projectiles across PC and consoles, players should still keep expectations in check regarding performance during the chaotic 5v5 matches. The Firing Range is also sitting this weekend out for larger groups, with the play button remaining greyed out for parties larger than three.
For a game that just closed out The Game Awards last month and pulled in a massive player base upon its release this week, quick iterations like this show a willingness to listen to early feedback. The developers were careful to clarify that the 5v5 setup is a separate experimental playlist rather than a permanent replacement for the core 3v3 experience, ensuring that fans of the original tactical pacing still have their preferred queue. It is a smart play for a weekend engagement spike, giving creator squads and regular groups a reason to pile in and test the game's mechanics under heavy fire.
Tags: Highguard, Hero Shooter, PC, Console, Gaming News
Original article: Eurogamer