Highguard vs BLACKWOOD

• Perspective: Third-Person
• Multiplayer: Single-Player Only
• Setting: 2012 Brooklyn, New York
• Platforms: PC
• Release Window: Q3 2026
• Unique Feature: A unique dual-life gameplay system that blends life simulation as a DVD store owner with a brutal, cinematic, John Wick-inspired third-person shooter.

• DVDs: As the owner of a DVD store, players can buy and sell films, which may function as a form of collectible.
• Lore Items: The detailed world is filled with environmental storytelling (ads, tattoos, posters) that piece together the game's narrative.

• Action
• Thriller
• Third-Person Shooter
• Hitman
• Dual Life
• Crime
• Narrative-Driven
• Beat 'em up

• Firearms: Varies
  A diverse arsenal of over 30 unique weapons for fast, stylish, and unforgiving gunplay.
• Hand-to-Hand: Melee
  A core component of combat, used in the game's extensive and brutal takedown system.
• Environmental Weapons: Improvised
  Players can use the environment around them to eliminate enemies with precision and style as part of the contextual finisher system.

Wardens utilize a hybrid system of firearms and 'Arcane Enhancements.' Abilities include elemental projectile spells, a 'shocking heart-rip' execution, and a signature knife-throw with high tactical utility. Players specialize in roles such as Breacher, Battlefield Controller, or Covering Fire.

The game incorporates light RPG elements to make Anton's dual identity feel more tangible. While specific skill trees have not been detailed, progression is tied to mastering the combat system, which includes fluid movement (dives, rolls, slides) and a vast arsenal of over 30 unique weapons. A key part of the gameplay is mastering the game's 30+ contextual finishers.

The game features massive, diverse maps including Bastion (fertile plains and woodlands), Casinea (mountainous quarries and mines), and Reikos (a liberated region defined by ruin and new beginnings). These large-scale environments are designed for both on-foot parkour and mounted traversal.

The game takes place in the open world of 2012 New York. The city is designed to be a living character, with every detail carrying meaning. The core gameplay loop is split between managing Anton's DVD store in Brooklyn during the day and exploring the city's criminal underworld on contract kills at night.

• Main Story Quests
  A cinematic, slow-burn narrative campaign that follows Anton Blackwood as he carries out his contracts and gets pulled deeper into a web of conspiracies, questioning if he is truly in control of his own life.
• DVD Store Management
  A life simulation gameplay loop where players must run Anton's business by buying and selling films, decorating the shop, and interacting with customers.

• Q: Is Highguard a Battle Royale?
  A: No, it is a objective-based PvP Raid Shooter.
• Q: Does it have Titanfall movement?
  A: Yes, wall-running is a confirmed part of the Warden mobility kit.
• Q: Is it purely PvP?
  A: It is primarily PvP, but features minor PvE encounters to power up during matches.

• Q: What is BLACKWOOD?
  A: BLACKWOOD is a single-player, third-person action thriller about a man living a double life as a DVD store owner by day and a professional hitman by night. It is known for its John Wick-inspired combat and deep, cinematic narrative.
• Q: What is the gameplay like?
  A: It is a blend of life simulation and third-person shooting. By day, you manage a DVD store. By night, you engage in fast, stylish, and brutal cover-based gunplay and hand-to-hand combat, with a focus on over 30 contextual takedowns.
• Q: Who is making the game?
  A: The game is being developed and published by AttritoM7 Productions, the studio behind the tactical FPS, Zero Hour.
• Q: When will it be released?
  A: The game is scheduled for release in the third quarter (Q3) of 2026 on PC via Steam.

• Official PC system requirements provided by Wildlight Entertainment. An NVMe SSD is highly recommended for optimal asset streaming of destructible environments.
• Laptop Performance Note: Mobile performance will vary by TGP and cooling. **High-performance laptops (NVIDIA RTX 3070 Mobile / RTX 4060 Mobile) are recommended for stable frames during intense multi-phase raid encounters.**
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: High TGP is preferred for managing arcane particle effects and destruction physics.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: The intensity of siege warfare can tax hardware; ensure active cooling to prevent stuttering.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: Modern multi-core mobile CPUs are essential for handling the complex AI of siege engines.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: Recommended to minimize latency in high-stakes PvP gunfights.
• Game Name: Highguard

• SPECULATIVE PC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS. As official specs are To Be Determined (TBD), these are hypothetical projections for a next-generation title, likely built on Unreal Engine 5.
• Laptop Performance Note: A title like this would demand a high-performance gaming laptop for the best experience. The game's emphasis on cinematic action and fluid animations will require stable performance.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Maximum TGP for the laptop's GPU would be essential to handle the advanced graphical features and maintain high framerates during intense firefights.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: The game's visually rich city and effects-heavy combat will require a laptop with a cutting-edge cooling solution to prevent thermal throttling.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: A powerful multi-core mobile CPU will be critical for handling the advanced enemy AI and physics-based interactions.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is a critical feature for reducing latency and ensuring the best possible performance in a fast-paced shooter.
• Game Name: BLACKWOOD

• G P U T G P: High TGP is preferred for managing arcane particle effects and destruction physics.
• Cooling Thermals: The intensity of siege warfare can tax hardware; ensure active cooling to prevent stuttering.
• C P U Power Limits: Modern multi-core mobile CPUs are essential for handling the complex AI of siege engines.
• M U X Switch Optimus: Recommended to minimize latency in high-stakes PvP gunfights.

• G P U T G P: Maximum TGP for the laptop's GPU would be essential to handle the advanced graphical features and maintain high framerates during intense firefights.
• Cooling Thermals: The game's visually rich city and effects-heavy combat will require a laptop with a cutting-edge cooling solution to prevent thermal throttling.
• C P U Power Limits: A powerful multi-core mobile CPU will be critical for handling the advanced enemy AI and physics-based interactions.
• M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is a critical feature for reducing latency and ensuring the best possible performance in a fast-paced shooter.