Highguard System Requirements and Recommended Specs

Highguard is a slightly bonkers game. The shooting feels like older Call of Duty titles, the visuals look like Valorant crossed with Hearthstone, and the gameplay is like the bastard child of The Finals and League of Legends.

Given that Highguard was helmed by Wildlight Entertainment, which includes staff from the Call of Duty franchise, Apex Legends, and the peerless Titanfall games, there is no doubt about the pedigree of the developers’ CV. Highguard has potential, but right now it needs some serious optimization, because even if you meet the recommended specs, the performance is less than ideal.

• OS: Windows 11 64-bit
• CPU: Intel Core i5-9600K / AMD Ryzen 5 3600
• RAM: 12 GB
• GPU: Nvidia RTX 2080 8 GB / AMD RX 6650 XT 8 GB
• Storage: 25 GB available space
• DirectX Version: 12

• OS: Windows 10 64-bit
• CPU: Intel Core i5-6600K / AMD Ryzen R5 1600
• RAM: 8 GB
• GPU: Nvidia GTX 1060 6GB / AMD RX 580 8 GB
• Storage: 25 GB available space
• DirectX Version: 12

Additionally, the recommended specs on the Steam Store Page for Highguard call for an NVMe SSD, but the minimum specs only ask for a regular SSD.

At the time of writing, the game does not run that well, even if you meet or exceed the recommended requirements. But games can always be optimized and updated, so Highguard could come back strong.

Right now though, if you’re using Highguard as an excuse to upgrade, we’d recommend starting with an NVMe SSD if for some reason you’re still on regular SSDs or, God forbid, a mechanical HDD. An MP700 PRO XT is the correct choice if your system supports PCIe 5.0, but an MP600 ELITE will perform admirably if you’re limited to PCIe 4.0.

Additionally, Highguard seems to weigh on the CPU more heavily than you’d think, so a new chip like a Ryzen 9800 X3D will help you out. Pair it with a CORSAIR TITAN 360 RX to make sure it doesn’t sweat too much, and you’ll be good to go.

We briefly mentioned that it’s a bit of a mashup, but a little more specificity might be helpful. The matches are objective based and comprise a 3v3 player count.

At the beginning of the match, you will have a window of time to pick your starting weapons and reinforce your base.

Once this period is over, your base will open and you’ll be able to gather weapons and armor from various chests on the map. Additionally, you can gain additional currency from breaking crystals scattered around the place. This is useful for upgrades and items which can be bought from a Captain Price-looking trader called Flynn.

After this the teams must first battle for possession of a sword that summons a battering ram to break the otherwise-invincible shield around the opposing team’s base.

You must carry and “plant” this sword much like a bomb in Counter Strike, meaning that if you’re killed while carrying or planting it, the other team can pick it up. Once the sword is planted and the battering ram has done its job, the next objective begins.

If it was your base that was opened by the battering ram, you must defend the shield generators within, buying enough time for the shield to regenerate. If you’re attacking, you must break these generators, or go for the tougher, but more crucial Anchor Stone, which when destroyed, will deal more damage. The raids only last a certain amount of time, so if the attacking team does not totally deplete the base’s health when the shield reactivates, the process starts all over again.