Highguard Video Shows Differences Between Xbox Series X and S Consoles

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A YouTube channel recently compared the graphics of the new game Highguard on the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. Developed by Wildlight Entertainment – a team with experience from games like Titanfall and Apex Legends – Highguard was first revealed at The Game Awards 2025 and quickly generated a lot of discussion. The free-to-play hero shooter caused such a stir that its announcement trailer received over 10,000 dislikes in its first week.

Wildlight Entertainment didn’t share any details about Highguard after it was announced, keeping players in the dark until the game unexpectedly launched in January. The situation became even more controversial when reports surfaced that Highguard hadn’t paid to be featured at the end of The Game Awards, and that host Geoff Keighley was the main reason it closed the show. Despite all the issues, the game is now available worldwide and aims to make a splash in the competitive online hero shooter genre.

YouTuber Showcases Resolution and Frame Rate Disparity of Highguard on Xbox Series X/S

New videos from the Fuzion Xbox Testing YouTube channel compare how the game Highguard looks and runs on the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. On the Series X, the game renders at 1108p but displays in 1440p. While the graphics are generally good, the testers point out that the game’s art style hides some finer details. It doesn’t support 120 FPS gameplay, but it runs smoothly at a native 60 FPS without major performance drops.

Playing Highguard on the Xbox Series S results in a softer image compared to more powerful consoles, as some visual details were reduced to ensure smooth gameplay. The game runs at 720p internally, but is displayed at 1080p, which Fuzion Xbox Testing notes makes the visuals appear a bit fuzzy. However, the game maintains a consistent 60 frames per second on the Series S without any significant performance drops. Overall, Fuzion Xbox Testing finds that while Highguard isn’t flawless, it still looks good on both Xbox consoles.

Image by Wildlight Entertainment

The difference in visual quality and how well games run on Highguard between the Xbox Series X and Series S is highlighting a problem for game developers on Microsoft’s consoles. Microsoft requires that any game released on the more powerful Series X must have the same features and performance on the less powerful Series S. This rule, known as a parity clause, is causing frustration among developers, who find it challenging to optimize games for the Series S without also limiting the potential of the Series X.

Wildlight Entertainment has launched Highguard on multiple platforms, and it will be interesting to follow its development and improvements. Even though opinions on the game are mixed, the developers plan to release new content for a year and are committed to making Highguard a lasting success. They hope it will join the ranks of games that recover from a rocky start and become popular on various platforms.

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2026-01-30 22:35