Highguard Doesn’t Deserve All the Hate It’s Getting

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For a brief period, the game Highguard became the target of a lot of criticism from the gaming community. After being featured at the end of the 2025 Game Awards show – a spot that’s usually exciting, but had become a source of negativity – many people started actively criticizing it. The negativity grew so intense that many thought the game wouldn’t be released on its planned January 2026 date, and might be delayed forever or even canceled altogether.

Despite a rocky start, the game Highguard launched on time. While initial reactions were largely negative – many players are already predicting its failure due to low player numbers and numerous issues – there’s still potential here. The development team is experienced and dedicated, and the game has a unique quality that, with improvement, could be truly exceptional. Ultimately, Highguard deserves a different assessment than the game Concord received.

Highguard Is Better Than People Think

Games as a service have become increasingly unpopular, and for good reason. Many players have been disappointed by games that prioritize profits over quality, with issues like aggressive in-game purchases, disappointing updates, and unfinished releases. It’s especially frustrating when games people have invested a lot of time and money into are simply shut down. While these problems are serious, it’s unfair to condemn the entire genre because of them.

It often feels like the gaming community is quick to judge and dismiss live service games. We’re often highly critical even before launch, seem to enjoy watching player counts drop, and celebrate when these games ultimately fail. Concord was a good example of this – despite its imperfections, it was actually quite fun and could have stood out in a crowded market if it had been given more time. Now, Highguard appears to be facing the same fate, with its potential overshadowed by negativity before it even has a chance to prove itself.

Now that players have had a chance to try Highguard, it’s proving to be quite fun. While it definitely has some issues, they’re not major and can likely be addressed with time. The game has a strong base that’s different from typical games in the genre, and Wildlight Entertainment could really build something special with player feedback – something we haven’t seen since Overwatch (especially within the hero shooter category).

Highguard Is Like Concord, But Not In The Way You’d Expect

Comparing Highguard to Concord might seem unfair, especially since Concord received a lot of criticism when it first launched. However, the two games have a lot in common. Like Highguard, Concord initially faced a wave of negativity, though that period didn’t last as long. The main difference is that Concord was a paid game, while Highguard is free to play.

Similar to the game Concord, Highguard is trying to create a unique experience by combining elements from several popular titles like Rainbow Six Siege, Overwatch, and Team Fortress 2. Concord also aimed for this blend, with a stronger emphasis on storytelling, and could have been great if it had been fully realized. Sadly, Concord was cancelled, and Highguard seems to be facing a similar risk.

Both games offer excellent shooting mechanics, distinct character powers, and impressive graphics (I actually liked the character designs in Concord). These elements are crucial for a successful ‘Hero Shooter,’ but even when done well, it’s not always enough. Some argue that with so many similar games available, a new title needs to be flawless from the start to succeed. But it’s also important to give a game time to improve and evolve, especially one that’s built to do so.

Highguard Deserves A Chance At Survival

It’s disappointing to see how quickly people dismiss new games and developers. We’re so eager to point out flaws that we risk missing out on titles that could improve and become truly great. This isn’t to say games should launch unfinished or unplayable, but Highguard isn’t one of those cases. It has a strong base, exciting and impactful combat, and a compelling cast of characters. While the game’s maps are a bit small and it could use more game modes, both of those are things that can be added and improved upon.

Highguard definitely does a lot of things better than other games of its type. It avoids many of the aggressive, pay-to-win tactics common in live service titles, making all heroes, maps, and game modes free to play. You only have to pay for cosmetic items like skins, and they even gave away the first battle pass! It’s a shame that, despite this, many people seem happy to let the game fade away. Of course, it’s a complex situation – we’re constantly bombarded with new games all competing for our time, which means good, but not perfect, games often get overlooked.

As a fan, it’s a little disheartening to think about what it would take for Highguard to really succeed. Basically, it needs us – the players – to support it with purchases like skins and battle passes. I know a lot of people are hesitant, given all the criticism and the issues some have found with it. But it would be a real shame to see another new experience fail just because the market is so crowded and we’ve been burned before. Let’s not let Highguard end up like Concord. I’d love to see us support the creators who are trying something different and give them a chance to deliver on their promises.

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2026-01-28 21:13