What time does Highguard release?

Highguard is finally out now on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X after a launch day showcase stream from the developers at Wildlight Entertainment. That means we also know precisely what the game actually is - a free-to-play PvP raid shooter. In short, it combines the wacky hero shooter ability sets and gear looting of Apex Legends with the base defence and destruction of something like Rainbow Six Siege.

The game launched on Steam at 6PM UTC on January 26 with console storefronts following after the showcase video ended - as I'm writing this update, I've got Highguard installing on my Xbox. So, if you're looking to… [checks notes] "fight for possession of the Shieldbreaker" and raid the enemy base, you can get stuck in right now.

Highguard release time for PC, PS5, and Xbox

The Highguard release date is January 26, with a release time of 6PM UTC, which converts to the following times:

• West Coast US: 10AM PST
• East Coast US: 1PM EST
• UK: 6PM GMT
• Central Europe: 7PM CET
• Eastern Australia: 5AM AEDT, January 27

While this release time hasn't been confirmed by developer Wildlight Entertainment, Highguard's official Steam page countdown and SteamDB page make it clear that it will be releasing at 6PM UTC. The developers at Wildlight are also running a launch day showcase, which is set to start at the same time. They will present a "full gameplay deep dive, year one plans, and much more", so I guess that's something to tune into while you wait for the game to install.

Speaking of which, there is no way to pre-load Highguard on any platform, so you'll just have to wait until it unlocks at 6PM UTC to start the download – the game doesn't even have a page on the Xbox or PlayStation stores yet. If you're playing on PC, you will need about 25GB of space, but you also need to have Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 enabled to be able to play at all.

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.