Highguard, the new free-to-play PvP raid shooter from Wildlight Entertainment, has gamers everywhere asking one important question: Can my PC handle it? With its January 26, 2026 release just around the corner, you need to know exactly what hardware you’ll need to jump into this exciting new title. The good news is that Highguard’s requirements are quite reasonable for a modern shooter, making it accessible to most gaming PCs built in the last 5-7 years. Whether you’re planning to play on minimum settings or want the best possible experience, we’ve got you covered with everything you need to know about Highguard system requirements.
Key Takeaways
- Minimum Requirements: Intel Core i5-6600K/AMD Ryzen R5 1600, 8GB RAM, GTX 1060/RX 580
- Recommended Requirements: Intel Core i5-9600K/AMD Ryzen 5 3600, 12GB RAM, RTX 2080/RX 6650 XT
- Storage Space: 25GB available space required (SSD recommended)
- Security Features: TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot must be enabled
- DirectX: Version 12 required for optimal performance
- Network: High-speed broadband internet connection needed
- OS Support: Windows 10/11 (64-bit) compatible
What Are the Highguard Minimum System Requirements?
Highguard minimum specs are designed to let most modern gaming PCs run the game at playable frame rates. The developers have done a great job optimizing the game so you don’t need the latest hardware to enjoy it. If your PC was built for gaming in the last 5-7 years, you’ll likely meet these requirements.
Here’s the complete breakdown of Highguard minimum system requirements:
| Component | Minimum Requirements |
| OS | Windows 10/11 (64-bit) |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-6600K / AMD Ryzen R5 1600 |
| Memory | 8 GB RAM |
| GPU | NVIDIA GTX 1060 6 GB / AMD RX 580 8 GB |
| DirectX | Version 12 |
| Network | High Speed Broadband Internet connection |
| Storage | 25 GB available space in SSD |
| Secure Boot | Enabled |
| TPM 2.0 | Enabled |
The Highguard PC requirements at minimum level will let you play the game at 1080p resolution with medium settings, targeting 60 FPS. This setup provides a solid gaming experience without breaking the bank, making it accessible to budget-conscious gamers.
What Are the Highguard Recommended System Requirements?
For the best Highguard experience, you’ll want to meet or exceed the recommended specs. These will let you enjoy the game at higher settings with better frame rates and visual quality. The Highguard recommended specs are still quite reasonable compared to other modern shooters.
Here’s what you need for optimal performance:
| Component | Recommended Requirements |
| OS | Windows 11 (64-bit) |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-9600K / AMD Ryzen 5 3600 |
| Memory | 12 GB RAM |
| GPU | Nvidia RTX 2080 8 GB / AMD RX 6650 XT 8 GB |
| DirectX | Version 12 |
| Network | High Speed Broadband Internet connection |
| Storage | 25 GB available space in NVMe SSD |
| Secure Boot | Enabled |
| TPM 2.0 | Enabled |
With these specs, you can expect smooth gameplay at 1080p or even 1440p resolution with high to ultra settings. The additional RAM and more powerful GPU will provide better textures, lighting, and overall visual fidelity. The NVMe SSD recommendation also means faster loading times, which is crucial for competitive PvP gameplay.
How Much Storage Space Do You Need for Highguard?
Highguard storage requirements are quite modest compared to many modern games. You’ll need at least 25 GB of free space on your hard drive or SSD to install the game. However, there are some important considerations to keep in mind.
The developers specifically recommend using an SSD rather than a traditional hard drive. This is because SSDs provide much faster loading times, which can give you a competitive advantage in a fast-paced PvP shooter. If you have an NVMe SSD, that’s even better, as it’s listed in the recommended requirements.
Unfortunately, Highguard won’t be available on the Epic Games Store at launch, so Steam is your only option for PC. This means you’ll need to have the Steam client installed and enough space on your Steam installation drive. Console players on PS5 and Xbox Series S|X will also have access to the game with quality and performance modes, though the exact storage requirements for consoles haven’t been announced yet.
Why Does Highguard Require TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot?
One unique aspect of Highguard system requirements is the mandatory TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot features. These security requirements have caused some confusion among players, so let’s break down why they’re necessary.
TPM 2.0 (Trusted Platform Module) is a security chip that provides hardware-based security functions. Secure Boot is a feature that ensures your PC only boots using trusted software. Together, these features help prevent cheating and protect the game’s integrity.
The game uses Easy Anti-Cheat, which requires these security features to function properly. This means that:
- Linux users won’t be able to play Highguard at launch
- Some older PCs might need BIOS updates to enable these features
- You may need to enter your PC’s BIOS/UEFI settings to enable TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot
While this might seem inconvenient, it’s becoming increasingly common for competitive online games to require these features to ensure a fair playing environment for everyone.
What Are the Highguard GPU Requirements?
The Highguard GPU requirements are quite reasonable for a modern shooter. At minimum, you’ll need an NVIDIA GTX 1060 6GB or AMD RX 580 8GB. These cards were released around 2016-2017 and are still capable of handling modern games at 1080p resolution.
For the best experience, the recommended specs call for an NVIDIA RTX 2080 8GB or AMD RX 6650 XT 8GB. These more modern cards provide better performance, ray tracing support, and improved efficiency.
It’s worth noting that the game requires DirectX 12, so you’ll need a graphics card that supports this API. Most modern GPUs do, but if you’re using something older than the GTX 1060/RX 580, you might need to upgrade.
How Much RAM Do You Need for Highguard?
Highguard RAM requirements follow modern gaming standards. The minimum requirement is 8GB, which has been the standard for gaming PCs for several years. However, the recommended specs call for 12GB of RAM.
This extra RAM helps with smoother performance, especially when you have other applications running in the background. It also allows the game to load more assets into memory, reducing potential stutters during gameplay.
If you’re building a new PC or upgrading specifically for Highguard, we recommend going with at least 16GB of RAM. This will ensure you have plenty of headroom for the game and any background applications like Discord, web browsers, or streaming software.
What Processor Do You Need for Highguard?
The Highguard processor requirements are quite reasonable. At minimum, you’ll need an Intel Core i5-6600K or AMD Ryzen R5 1600. These are 6-core processors from around 2016-2017 that are still capable of handling modern games.
For optimal performance, the recommended specs call for an Intel Core i5-9600K or AMD Ryzen 5 3600. These newer processors provide better single-threaded performance and improved efficiency, which can result in higher frame rates and smoother gameplay.
The good news is that Highguard doesn’t require an extremely powerful CPU. This means you don’t need to break the bank on the latest processor to enjoy the game. Any modern 6-core processor should provide a good experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my PC run Highguard?
To check if your PC can run Highguard, compare your system specs against the minimum requirements. You’ll need at least an Intel Core i5-6600K or AMD Ryzen R5 1600 processor, 8GB RAM, and an NVIDIA GTX 1060 or AMD RX 580 graphics card. Don’t forget to ensure TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot are enabled in your BIOS, as these are mandatory requirements. If your specs are close to these minimums, you should be able to play the game at 1080p with medium settings.
How do I enable Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 for Highguard?
Enabling TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot requires entering your PC’s BIOS/UEFI settings. First, restart your computer and press the designated key (usually F2, F10, or Del) during startup to enter BIOS. Look for security settings in the advanced menu. For TPM 2.0, find the TPM or Security Chip option and enable it. For Secure Boot, locate the Secure Boot option and enable it. You may need to set a BIOS password first. After making these changes, save and exit BIOS. You can verify TPM 2.0 is working by pressing Windows+R, typing “tpm.msc”, and checking if it shows “The TPM is ready for use.”
Why does Highguard require Secure Boot and TPM 2.0?
Highguard requires TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot primarily for anti-cheat protection. The game uses Easy Anti-Cheat, which operates at the kernel level and needs these security features to function properly. TPM 2.0 provides hardware-based security that helps ensure only trusted software runs during startup, while Secure Boot prevents unauthorized code from executing during the boot process. Together, these features create a more secure environment that makes it harder for cheaters to manipulate the game, ensuring fair gameplay for all players.
How much storage space do I need for Highguard?
You need at least 25 GB of free storage space to install Highguard. The developers specifically recommend using an SSD rather than a traditional hard drive for better performance, with NVMe SSDs being preferred for optimal loading times. Keep in mind that this is just the initial installation size, and future updates may require additional space. It’s always a good idea to have some extra free space available for patches and updates.
Is Highguard poorly optimized?
Based on early player reports, Highguard has had some performance issues at launch. Some players with high-end systems (RTX 4090, Ryzen 7 7800X3D) have reported struggling to maintain high frame rates, suggesting optimization problems. However, these issues may be related to server-side problems or day-one bugs that developers are working to fix. The system requirements themselves are quite reasonable, so once optimization patches are released, performance should improve significantly.
Will Highguard run on Linux?
Unfortunately, Highguard will not run on Linux at launch. The game’s mandatory TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot requirements, combined with its kernel-level anti-cheat system, make it incompatible with Linux operating systems. The developers have not announced any plans for Linux support, so for now, you’ll need Windows 10 or 11 to play Highguard on PC.
What are the performance issues with Highguard?
Early players have reported several performance issues with Highguard, including stuttering, frame rate drops, and server connectivity problems. Some users with high-end hardware are not getting the performance they expect based on their system specs. These issues appear to be related to both client-side optimization and server-side problems. The developers are likely working on patches to address these performance issues, so keep an eye out for updates that may improve the game’s performance.
Conclusion
Highguard system requirements are quite reasonable for a modern PvP shooter, making it accessible to most gaming PCs. Whether you’re running minimum specs or have a high-end rig, you should be able to enjoy this exciting new title. Just remember to enable TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot before launch day to avoid any last-minute issues.
The game’s requirements strike a good balance between visual quality and accessibility, ensuring that most players can participate without needing expensive hardware upgrades. With proper optimization and the right settings, Highguard should provide an engaging competitive experience for a wide range of PC gamers.
Ready to jump into the action? Check your specs, enable those security features, and get ready for Highguard’s launch on January 26, 2026. The battlefield awaits!
