Highguard is currently facing some challenges, even though many players, including myself, appreciate the core game Wildlight Entertainment has created. While the game definitely has flaws, it also shows a lot of promise. It’s disappointing that Highguard might not reach its full potential, due to both negative feedback and a series of missteps with its launch, which led to a lot of online criticism.
As a huge fan, I really believe Wildlight Entertainment could save Highguard and make it amazing if they looked at what happened with Splitgate. That game was pretty controversial at first, but it built a dedicated fanbase and got enough funding to justify a sequel! If Highguard does a few key things right, it could stick around for years and become a truly unique and awesome hero shooter – something we haven’t really seen before.
Highguard Must Copy Splitgate In Order To Survive
I truly believe Highguard has been unfairly criticized since its announcement at the 2025 Game Awards and its release in January 2026. The game has a solid base and the potential to be great, and it’s wrong to dismiss any multiplayer game immediately after launch, particularly one that’s meant to grow and change over time. That said, it’s understandable that players are disappointed because the current experience doesn’t live up to the game’s exciting concept and the developers’ vision, which is a real letdown.
To achieve similar results, the game needs to follow the path of Splitgate, the Portalinspired shooter that became a hit in 2019. Splitgate* initially launched with little notice and struggled to attract players. But after a successful console beta in 2021, it experienced a huge surge in popularity, almost overwhelming the game servers.
The game’s initial launch was a huge win, thanks to significant improvements to how the game actually played. Splitgate evolved from a simple shooter with an interesting idea into a competitive multiplayer game that attracted a lot of players. While it wasn’t perfect – the launch of Splitgate 2 didn’t go well – the original success offers a clear path forward for Highguard, and may be essential for its future.
More Games Need To Change Their Release Strategy
Instead of announcing Highguard at The Game Awards and then releasing it unexpectedly two weeks later, a more subtle launch strategy would have been better. Like Valve’s Deadlock, which has built a loyal following through ongoing betas and updates despite limited developer communication, Highguard could have started with a beta period. This would have allowed a small, dedicated community to support the game’s development and allowed the developers to fully refine the core gameplay before the official launch.
Highguard reminds me a lot of Splitgate when it first launched in 2019. Both games are trying to do something new in a crowded market, and they’ve had some successes, but also significant issues that hold them back. While the Deadlock solution isn’t viable for Highguard, a fresh start – perhaps by re-releasing the game as an early access title on Steam – would be really beneficial. This would lower expectations and give the developers the breathing room they need to improve the core gameplay experience.
The criticism surrounding Highguard stems from the fact that it was released as a full game (1.0) but felt more like an early access title. To succeed and meet the expectations of both its developers, Wildlight Entertainment, and its fans, Highguard needs to rebuild trust with the gaming community. The best path forward is to follow the example of Splitgate: actively collect player feedback, significantly improve core gameplay, and then relaunch when the game is truly ready. This is the only way Highguard can thrive.
Launching a game in a shaky state and hoping players will be patient while more polished competitors arrive seems risky. Highguard desperately needs significant improvements, and those take time to develop. Wouldn’t it be better to focus on building a supportive community on a platform built for games still in development – a place where fans are eager to help and understand the current state of the game? Only time will tell what Wildlight Entertainment decides, but I think they’d be better off following the successful example of Splitgate rather than repeating the mistakes that led to the failure of Concord.
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2026-01-30 23:18