Wildlight has released a new update for its live-service hero shooter Highguard, addressing several community requests and technical issues. The update focuses on player controls, visual customization, and backend stability, with the studio reporting a 90 percent reduction in crashes. This update arrives shortly after the game’s launch, following feedback regarding technical issues and limited gameplay options.
New Control Options Enhance Gameplay
One of the most requested features added is a crouch toggle option. Players across all platforms can now choose whether crouch functions as a hold or toggle input. On PC, the update also adds a toggle option for aiming down sights (ADS), allowing players to customize their control preferences further. Wildlight notes that console support for toggle ADS is still in development. The patch also modifies how ADS interacts with sprinting; when using toggle ADS, pressing the sprint input will swap scopes, which may feel disorienting on controllers. The studio recommends PC players rebind scope swap if using toggle ADS while console players will have additional options in a future update.
These changes aim to make movement and aiming more accessible while providing players with more control over gameplay responsiveness.
Visual Customization and Performance Updates
The update introduces several visual and performance improvements designed to give players greater control over their experience. Console players can now adjust the field of view (FoV) up to 110, offering a wider perspective during matches. Low scalability settings for shadows and reflections have been tuned to improve performance, while low shadow settings now disable volumetric fog to reduce GPU load. A new view distance quality setting allows players to manage skeletal mesh detail levels, providing further control over CPU and GPU usage.
Additional graphics options include the ability to toggle features such as anisotropic materials, chromatic aberration, bloom, and global illumination. DLSS users can also select presets with more options planned for future patches. The update resolves an engine bug that previously restricted some laptop users to 60 FPS, allowing frame rate settings to function as intended.
Crash Fixes and Online Reliability
The most significant technical improvements in this update involve stability and crash reduction. Major crashes that occurred when leaving matches on PS5, loading into games on slower storage systems, and issues related to online presence and matchmaking have been addressed. Friend and presence systems now function correctly, with players appearing online reliably and Xbox presence updating without errors. These fixes have contributed to the reported 90 percent reduction in crashes, marking a substantial improvement in the game’s stability.
Early Player Feedback and Industry Response
Highguard was announced last month during Geoff Keighley’s The Game Awards and features a team of developers with previous experience on Titanfall and Apex Legends. The hero shooter allows characters to ride mounts like horses and bears into battle, blending traditional hero shooter combat with unique movement mechanics. Early reception noted strong player interest at launch, though some players expressed concerns about map size and the 3v3 match format. Industry developers, including 1047 Games, have expressed support for Wildlight, noting that live-service titles often undergo significant updates after their initial release.
Ongoing Development Plans
Wildlight has indicated that additional improvements are planned, including expanded localization for settings, further graphics options such as motion blur and depth of field, and more refined DLSS presets. The studio continues to prioritize stability, player control, and performance as Highguard evolves, reflecting a commitment to responding to community feedback and ensuring a smooth gameplay experience.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What platforms is the Highguard update available on?
The update is available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox consoles, with specific features such as ADS toggle currently limited to PC.
How much does the update reduce crashes?
Wildlight reports that crashes have been reduced by 90 percent, addressing several of the most common technical issues.
Can I adjust the field of view on consoles?
Yes, console players can now adjust FoV up to 110, allowing for a wider in-game perspective.
What new control options are available?
Players can toggle crouch on all platforms, and PC players can toggle ADS. Other control adjustments, such as scope swapping with sprint, are also included.
Are there improvements to graphics performance?
Yes, the update allows for adjustments to shadows, reflections, view distance quality, and toggles for visual effects such as bloom and chromatic aberration, along with updated DLSS options.
Will there be more updates for Highguard?
Wildlight plans additional updates, including expanded localization, new graphics options, and more DLSS presets. These updates aim to further improve gameplay stability and customization.
