Highguard will avoid crossover skins and intrusive ads, developers say

Pcgamer reports that Wildlight Entertainment says its free-to-play shooter Highguard will avoid gaudy crossover skins and intrusive ads. The studio says Highguard will have cosmetic-only battle passes that never expire, new heroes and maps free for all, and that the most expensive items at launch—like a legendary bear mount—are $20.

"We share your concerns," Wildlight co-founder and game director Chad Grenier said. "You'll see when you're out there playing the game, what you see today is what we're launching with." Grenier said the Los Angeles build he referenced had character-driven menu backgrounds, a simple mode select screen, a store tab, but no ads outside the store itself. Another developer said, "We have the most rudimentary message of the day system ever, because we want you to just enter the world and leave you the hell alone until you want to go look at [the store]," and lead designer Mohammad Alavi added, "Not doing loot boxes really helps with that. Like our artists are actually excited to make the MTX because they're only making top tier stuff."

Grenier also said there are no plans for crossover skins that betray Highguard's world, and that any collaborations would need to fit the IP and the team's storytelling plans. "We'll have more to say about Highguard, including some proper impressions, in the coming days."

Key Topics

Tech, Highguard, Wildlight Entertainment, Chad Grenier, Mohammad Alavi, Battle Pass