Highguard's Final 'Farewell Tour' Patch Introduces New Warden and Skill Tree Ahead of Shutdown

Highguard, the free-to-play PvP raid shooter that debuted at The Game Awards last year, has rolled out its final patch ahead of its impending closure. Developer Wildlight confirmed that Highguard will officially shut down on March 12, but not without a celebratory "farewell tour," aptly named for the game’s last update. Launched on January 26, Highguard saw a brief period of enthusiastic player engagement, with concurrent users on Steam nearing 100,000. Unfortunately, those numbers quickly dwindled despite attempts from Wildlight to enhance the game, including the introduction of a 5v5 mode in response to community feedback. Sadly, the studio faced significant layoffs shortly thereafter. In the announcement of this final patch, the developers expressed gratitude to the community, stating, "As we prepare to shut down, we are thrilled to provide our remaining players with one last substantial update to enjoy over the weekend. Thank you for being part of our journey!" This last update features a brand new Warden, a fresh weapon, account leveling, and a skill tree for players eager to maximize their final gaming sessions. ### Key Features of the Farewell Tour Update: **Account Progression** Players can now level up their accounts simply by engaging in gameplay. As players return to the lobby, they will earn experience points (XP), allowing them to level up and acquire Skill Points to invest in the new Skill Tree. Starting from level 0, players can progress all the way to level 100. The initial level gained awards 5 Skill Points, and players earn 1 Skill Point per level up until they reach level 40, totaling 44 points to distribute among their chosen skill trees. **Skill Tree** The Skill Tree presents players with four distinct playstyle branches, offering numerous upgrade options and two tiers of power for each small node. Below is a brief overview of the branches: - **Raider**: Enhancements for players thriving in Raids, with buffs and combat efficiency focused abilities. - **Infiltration**: Features skills for zipping deep into enemy territory during raids. - **Juggernaut**: Grants an overshield for a short time when a wall is destroyed. - **Spearhead**: Provides a Domesplitter and Thumper Charge when the Siege Tower is deployed. - **Harvester**: Boosts Vesper acquisition and Warden Axe effectiveness, including powerful swings and crafting abilities. - **Treasure Hunter**: Focused on looting, with skills to discover hidden chests and sell items. - **Protector**: Enhancements for defensive gameplay, including fortified walls and armor protections. Players can easily adjust their skills and even reset all points at no cost, encouraging experimentation with the new features. **New Warden - Koldo** Koldo is a newly introduced Warden, a soul from the past trapped in armor, seeking to uncover his history while protecting his team. His abilities include: - **Passive Ability - Guardian Angel**: Safeguard nearby friendly orbs from destruction and automatically shield allies during revives. - **Tactical Ability - Soul Shield**: Creates a protective shield for allies. - **Ultimate Ability - Battle Cry**: Summons a protective dome that enhances health regeneration for allies within. **New Weapon - The Switchback** The Switchback is a versatile weapon designed for both close and long-range combat. It functions as a shotgun in hipfire mode but can be aimed for marksman rifle precision. Its unique double-barrel design allows for quick successive shots before reloading, making it a favorite among many Wardens. Two special gold variants of the Switchback, Basebreaker and Repeater, can be discovered in loot chests or obtained from Trader Flynn. With this final update, Highguard aims to leave its players with one last enjoyable experience before the game shuts down permanently.