Wildlight has unveiled the final patch for its game Highguard, with creative director Jason McCord noting the efforts of a dedicated “skeleton crew” that worked diligently to get it done.

In a recent announcement, the studio confirmed the release of this last update for the free-to-play hero shooter, which will soon be permanently shut down. In his message, McCord expressed that the remaining team was eager to complete this update, stating their commitment to delivering it “even if it’s only enjoyed by a few thousand players.”

“They volunteered to finish it up and ensure it sees the light of day,” McCord explained. Additional details regarding the content of the patch reveal updates about Highguard’s new skill tree, weapon, and Warden character.

The new Warden, named Koldo, is described as a “lost soul” trapped in armor and searching for the truth about his past. He has the ability to harness “the power of his soul” to protect his allies.

Here are Koldo’s Warden attributes:

Passive Ability: Guardian Angel

• Protect nearby friendly orbs from being destroyed.
• Automatically deploy a shield when reviving teammates.

Tactical Ability: Soul Shield

• Creates a protective shield for you and your allies.

Ultimate Ability: Battle Cry

• Koldo raises a standard that forms a protective dome. He can carry and reposition this standard as needed.
• Allies inside the dome receive enhanced health regeneration.

A new weapon called The Switchback has also been introduced, which is a long-range double-barrel shotgun.

“The Switchback offers remarkable versatility, effectively handling both close and long-range combat situations. It operates as a shotgun when fired from the hip, while aiming down sights transforms it into a marksman rifle,” according to the patch notes. “The name Switchback reflects its unique design, allowing players to quickly fire twice before needing to reload, although they also have the option to pace their shots for a steady barrage.”

This weapon has seen many aspiring Wardens attempting to master it, but only a few have attained true proficiency. There are also two gold versions of the Switchback hidden throughout the game world.

The new skill tree for Highguard has been designed to allow players to enhance their gameplay through “four distinctive playstyles,” with each branch offering different upgrade options. These branches include two tiers of power across all smaller nodes.

Here are the focus areas for each branch, along with a few examples:

Raider – tailored for players aiming to excel during Raids, with buffs and abilities centered around combat effectiveness.

• Infiltration – zipline further into enemy territory while raiding.
• Juggernaut – gain a temporary overshield after destroying a wall.
• Spearhead – acquire a Domesplitter and a Thumper Charge when your Siege Tower arrives.

Harvester – intended for players who wish to boost their Vesper collection and Warden Axe strength.

• Heavy Swing – use your axe two-handed to instantly demolish Vesper Nodes.
• Shatter Orb – eliminate enemy soul orbs with your Throwing Axe or Regular Axe Swing.
• Field Crafting – develop Armor, Equipment, and Raid Tools on the battlefield.

Treasure Hunter – for those players who enjoy looting.

• Treasure Seeker – locate and open hidden chests at Points of Interest (PoIs).
• Archaeologist – sell items to Trader Flynn.
• Artifact Mastery – gain bonus magical properties when amulets are equipped.

Protector – aimed at players interested in defense and team cohesion.

• Resonant Walls – make reinforced walls more durable.
• Unbreakable Armour – prevent armor loss on death once every two minutes.
• Vanguard – allow allies to spawn near you while defending your base.

Complete details are available on Highguard’s official platform. When questioned about the timing for the introduction of features like the skill tree, McCord commented:

“None of these features were present at launch. The Skill Trees, in particular, took the team a focused crunch period to complete. Some elements, like Koldo and the Switchback, were partially developed and planned for future updates. The team prioritized what was nearest completion and finalized it.”

Highguard’s creative director noted that the newly released content represents a compromise, with Koldo lacking complete skins, emotes, and some audio elements. However, he still believes that Koldo is a worthy addition to the game.

“Even the Skill Trees aren’t as refined as they could be,” McCord admitted. “We conducted a brief week of testing before deciding to proceed with the release. Normally, development time allows for more refinements and adjustments, but we didn’t have that luxury this time around.”

Highguard concluded The Game Awards 2025 with a trailer showcasing its world of battling Wardens and their magical mounts. The game launched in January, quickly attracting a large player base, though some players expressed dissatisfaction regarding aspects like map size and the 3v3 gameplay format.

The studio attempted to address these concerns through various updates and patches, converting a previously limited-time 5v5 mode into a permanent feature. However, dwindling player counts and reported funding challenges ultimately compelled Wildlight to cease operations and close Highguard.