Highguard’s Poor Launch May Work in Its Favor

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When Highguard launched in January 2026, it quickly became a popular online shooter, attracting a lot of attention. While its announcement at The Game Awards 2025 and the conversations it sparked were somewhat divisive, players were definitely intrigued. Almost 100,000 people started playing on Steam within the first few hours – a great start for a new, free-to-play game from a small studio. Even though the initial player count dropped off, the early enthusiasm proved that people were genuinely interested in what Wildlight Entertainment had made.

The true story of Highguard isn’t about its initial negative reception. It’s about how dedicated players are responding to the criticism and how the developers are listening. These early problems have sparked important discussions about what players want from ongoing, evolving shooter games, and the Highguard team is already making changes. As we’ve seen with games like No Man’s Sky and Cyberpunk 2077, a difficult launch doesn’t always mean a game will ultimately fail.

Any Press Is Good Press for Highguard Right Now

Since its announcement at The Game Awards, Highguard has received a lot of criticism. Players quickly shared their disappointment with the game’s trailer and gameplay online, creating numerous discussions and memes. Initially, the game received a “Mostly Negative” rating on Steam, with many pointing out performance issues and design choices that didn’t meet their expectations.

Despite the negative reaction, the game received a lot of attention. Being discussed on platforms like Reddit and in gaming news meant people knew it existed. The initial surge to almost 100,000 players on Steam proves that Highguard definitely made an impact. Much of this interest came from players curious to see what all the controversy was about.

Despite some initial criticism, Highguard has achieved something many independent games don’t: widespread awareness among gamers. A strong launch player base generates buzz, streams, and online discussions – exposure that’s incredibly difficult to purchase, particularly for a new franchise. Importantly, the conversation surrounding the game is changing, with players discovering that it’s actually fun, and recognizing its potential with a few more improvements.

Regular Updates Will Build Highguard Into Something Great

The team at Wildlight Entertainment, creators of Highguard, has been actively responding to player feedback since the game launched. They’ve released updates to improve performance and added a new 5v5 game mode, which was a direct response to players who felt the original 3v3 mode wasn’t full enough. The positive reaction to the 5v5 mode has significantly boosted Highguard’s popularity.

Being responsive to player feedback is crucial for a game’s success. Games that rigidly follow a plan without listening to players often fail, but Highguard has proven it’s willing to change and improve. For example, an early update fixed many crashes and made the game more enjoyable, demonstrating that the developers truly listen to player concerns. This recent patch, addressing two key issues, shows Wildlight Entertainment is committed to the game and values its player base.

Playing 5v5 mode in Highguard for the first time really changed how I felt about the game. I found the 3v3 mode very unforgiving because there was little room for error while learning all the game’s systems. The larger 5v5 matches offered more freedom to experiment, make mistakes, and improve. This improvement reminded me of how No Man’s Sky and Cyberpunk 2077 turned things around after difficult launches. If Wildlight Entertainment keeps delivering updates players enjoy, Highguard could become something truly special.

Highguard Is Poised for the Comeback Story of a Lifetime

As a gamer, I’ve definitely seen this happen before. Remember when Cyberpunk 2077 had a really rough launch? It frustrated a lot of us, but the developers kept working on it with patches and fixes, and eventually, things turned around. No Man’s Sky is a perfect example too – they really listened to players and completely rebuilt the game over time. Now, Highguard feels like it’s heading down a similar path, and honestly, the first week has been really promising!

The initial launch of Highguard wasn’t smooth, but what’s really important now is the dedicated community that’s still actively playing, providing feedback, and returning after each update. Player reviews on Steam, which were very negative at first, are now trending toward “Mixed,” suggesting that committed players are starting to enjoy the game despite its early problems. Wildlight Entertainment has a lot of work ahead, but if they continue to listen to player feedback and improve the game, Highguard could become a major success story.

Despite a rocky start, Highguard is genuinely a fun game. Its Raid system is a fresh and exciting addition to the shooting game world. I really enjoy playing it, though it definitely needs some tweaks. The developers at Wildlight Entertainment need to listen to what players think to make the game even better. They have plans for improvements and new content, and if they follow through, Highguard has the potential to become a surprisingly great game.

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2026-02-03 20:14