Updated for January 2026 Launch

Highguard Best Settings Guide

Optimize your Highguard PC settings for maximum FPS and competitive advantage. This comprehensive guide covers graphics settings, display options, the FPS unlock fix, and performance tips to help you dominate every raid.

Patch:v1.0.4
Updated:January 30, 2026
Source:Community Data
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Why Highguard Settings Matter

Getting the right Highguard settings can make the difference between winning and losing in this fast-paced 3v3 raid shooter. Developed by Wildlight Entertainment (the team behind Apex Legends and Titanfall), Highguard demands smooth performance for competitive play. Many players have reported FPS issues, stuttering, and performance problems at launch — but with the right Highguard settings, you can achieve stable framerates even on mid-range hardware.

This Highguard best settings guide is based on extensive testing and recommendations from sources including Game Rant, Dot Esports, and Dexerto. We'll cover everything from display settings to the crucial FPS unlock fix that many players miss. Whether you're running a high-end RTX 4080 or a budget GTX 1660, these Highguard settings will help you get the most out of your system.

New Highguard Settings in v1.0.4

The v1.0.4 patch introduced several highly requested Highguard settings options. These new settings improve both PC and console experiences, giving players more control over their gameplay. Here are all the new Highguard settings added in the January 30, 2026 update:

New Input Settings

  • +
    Toggle Crouch (All Platforms)
    Choose between Hold or Toggle for crouching — essential for comfort during long sessions
  • +
    Toggle ADS (PC Only)
    Set Aim Down Sights to Hold or Toggle. Note: Tapping Sprint while in Toggle ADS will swap your scope

Console Improvements

  • +
    FOV Slider (up to 110)
    Console players can now increase FOV to 110, matching PC capabilities. Higher FOV improves awareness but may cost some performance
  • +
    Motion Blur Toggle
    Disable motion blur for cleaner visuals during fast movement
  • +
    Anisotropic Materials Toggle
    Disable for potential performance improvement

New PC Graphics Options

  • +
    DLSS Preset Selection
    Choose your preferred DLSS preset for fine-tuned performance vs quality balance
  • +
    View Distance Quality
    Controls character detail at different distances — lower for better GPU and CPU performance
  • +
    Disable Global Illumination
    Can now be fully disabled for significant FPS gains

New Visual Toggles (PC)

  • +
    Bloom Toggle
    Disable bloom effects for clearer visibility
  • +
    Chromatic Aberration Toggle
    Disable for sharper image quality — recommended for competitive play
  • +
    Anisotropic Materials Toggle
    Disable for minor performance improvement

Recommended v1.0.4 Settings: For competitive Highguard settings, disable Bloom and Chromatic Aberration, set View Distance Quality to Medium, and use DLSS Quality preset. Console players should immediately increase FOV to 100-110 for better situational awareness.

Display Settings for Highguard

The display settings in Highguard control how the game renders to your screen. These Highguard settings have the biggest impact on input lag and overall smoothness. Here are our recommended display settings for competitive Highguard play:

SettingRecommendedWhy
Windowed ModeWindowed FullscreenAllows easy alt-tabbing without performance loss
ResolutionNative (1080p/1440p/4K)Use your monitor's native resolution for best clarity
V-SyncOffReduces input lag significantly — essential for competitive play
Max FPSUncapped (requires fix)See FPS unlock fix section below
Field of View100-110Higher FOV = better awareness, but costs some FPS

Important: Highguard uses Easy Anti-Cheat, which requires Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 enabled in your BIOS. If you're having launch issues, check these settings first.

Best Graphics Settings for Highguard

These Highguard graphics settings are optimized for maximum FPS while maintaining competitive visibility. We recommend using Custom quality preset rather than the built-in presets, as this gives you more control over individual settings that impact Highguard performance the most.

SettingRecommendedFPS Impact
Global QualityCustomUse custom for best control
Internal Resolution65% (DLSS Quality) or 50% (Performance)Very High Impact
Anti-AliasingDLSS (Nvidia) / TSR (AMD)Improves FPS
Shadow QualityLowHigh Impact
Global IlluminationLowHigh Impact
Reflection QualityLowMedium-High Impact
Anti-Aliasing QualityHighImproves clarity
Texture QualityBased on VRAM*VRAM dependent
Effects QualityMediumMedium Impact
Post-ProcessingHighMinimal Impact
Foliage QualityLowHigh Impact (open maps)
Shading QualityLowMedium Impact

*Texture Quality by VRAM:
• 6GB VRAM (GTX 1660, RTX 3060): Low
• 8GB VRAM (RTX 3070, RX 6700 XT): Medium
• 10GB+ VRAM (RTX 3080+, RX 6800+): High

Highguard FPS Unlock Fix

Many players report that Highguard locks their FPS to 60 even when the in-game settings show "Uncapped". This is a known bug that requires a manual fix. Here's how to unlock your FPS in Highguard:

Step-by-Step FPS Fix for Highguard

  1. 1
    Open Windows Run
    Press Win + R and type %appdata%
  2. 2
    Navigate to Highguard Config
    Go to: Local > Highguard > Saved > Config > WindowsClient
  3. 3
    Edit GameUserSettings.ini
    Open the file with Notepad and find FrameRateLimit
  4. 4
    Change the Value
    Set FrameRateLimit=0.000000 for uncapped, or set it to your desired FPS (e.g., 240.000000)
  5. 5
    Save and Lock the File
    Save the file, then right-click it and set to Read Only to prevent the game from reverting your changes

Pro Tip: If you're using G-Sync or FreeSync, cap your FPS 2-3 frames below your monitor's refresh rate for the smoothest experience. For example, if you have a 144Hz monitor, set FrameRateLimit to 141.000000.

Highguard System Requirements

Before optimizing your Highguard settings, make sure your PC meets the system requirements. Here are the official requirements from Wildlight Entertainment:

Minimum Requirements

  • OSWindows 10 64-bit
  • CPUIntel i5-6600 / AMD Ryzen 3 1200
  • GPUGTX 1050 Ti / RX 560
  • RAM8 GB
  • Storage30 GB SSD

Recommended Requirements

  • OSWindows 11 64-bit
  • CPUIntel i7-9700 / AMD Ryzen 5 3600
  • GPURTX 2070 / RX 5700 XT
  • RAM16 GB
  • Storage30 GB NVMe SSD

Additional Highguard Performance Tips

System Optimizations

  • Close background applications before playing Highguard — especially browsers and Discord screen share
  • Update your GPU drivers to the latest version for best Highguard compatibility
  • Set Highguard to "High Performance" in Windows Graphics Settings
  • Disable Xbox Game Bar and Windows Game Mode for lower input lag

Known Issues

  • Highguard may have memory leak issues after extended play sessions — restart the game every few hours
  • Some players report stuttering with Effects Quality on High — use Medium instead
  • Wildlight Entertainment is aware of performance issues and plans optimizations in future patches

Highguard Settings FAQ

Why is my Highguard FPS locked at 60?
This is a known bug in Highguard where the in-game FPS setting doesn't work properly. You need to manually edit the GameUserSettings.ini file to unlock your FPS. See our FPS Unlock Fix section above for step-by-step instructions.
What are the best Highguard settings for low-end PCs?
For low-end PCs, set everything to Low except Anti-Aliasing Quality (keep at Medium for visibility). Use DLSS Performance mode or FSR Performance if available. You should also lower your resolution scale to 50% and turn off all post-processing effects. These Highguard settings should help you achieve playable framerates.
Should I use DLSS or TSR in Highguard?
If you have an Nvidia RTX GPU, DLSS is the better choice for Highguard as it provides better image quality at the same performance level. For AMD GPUs, use TSR (Temporal Super Resolution). Both will significantly boost your FPS in Highguard while maintaining visual clarity.
What FPS should I aim for in Highguard?
For competitive Highguard play, aim for at least 120 FPS to match most high-refresh-rate monitors. If you have a 144Hz or 240Hz monitor, try to achieve framerates that match. Consistent framerates are more important than peak FPS — it's better to have stable 120 FPS than fluctuating 100-200 FPS.

Sources & References

Settings recommendations based on testing and guides from Game Rant, Dot Esports, Dexerto, and Destructoid. System requirements from official Highguard Steam page and Wildlight Entertainment.

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