Highguard studio says it’s looking for a “core group of fans that love us,” not to top the Steam charts — “We don’t need [player counts] to be super huge”

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Two months after Highguard was unveiled at The Game Awards 2025 and met with criticism for being another hero shooter in a crowded market, the game has now launched on Xbox, PC, and PS5. A recent showcase aimed to demonstrate how Highguard differs from other games in the genre, though whether it succeeds is still up for debate.

Highguard is a team-based PvP game where three teams of three players fight it out. It combines skill-based combat with the excitement of scavenging for gear, and features base raiding elements similar to popular survival games. Because it’s free to play, many players are giving it a try.

The game hasn’t become a massive hit just yet. While it initially peaked at nearly 97,000 players on Steam, that number has since dropped to around 62,000. However, the developers at Wildlight Entertainment aren’t focused on topping the Steam charts; they’re aiming to build a loyal and dedicated player base instead.

According to lead designer Mohammad Alavi, the game doesn’t require massive player numbers to succeed. Speaking with the press and PC Gamer, he explained that with a small development team, finding a six-player match – the game’s initial maximum – is already achievable. Their main goal is to build a dedicated fanbase who truly enjoy the game, as that will allow them to expand and improve it over time.

Wildlight is a small, independent game studio with around 100 developers. About 60 of those developers previously worked at Respawn Entertainment, the studio behind popular games like Titanfall, Apex Legends, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. The studio is funded by private investors and has already released its first game, Highguard.

While it’s possible Highguard could have been a massive hit, its chances significantly decreased after a poorly received reveal at The Game Awards, which didn’t effectively demonstrate the game’s core gameplay. Wildlight CEO Dusty Welch acknowledged the company’s responsibility, stating they should have created a better presentation to showcase the game’s unique features.

The game had a difficult start, but the developers are now working hard to improve it. They’re concentrating on making Highguard the best it can be and hoping its quality will attract players.

It’s awful being the target of online hate, but I’m trying to stay focused on creating the best game possible and sharing it with players. Ultimately, that’s what’s most important,” Alavi explained.

It’s just the nature of the internet – if you want to succeed with a constantly updated game, you have to pay attention to what players are really saying, not just what they say on the surface. We’re seeing signs that players are getting tired of things or are confused, and it’s our job to address those issues, which we plan to do.

Even though there are already many hero shooter games available, Wildlight is confident they can find players for Highguard, especially since the genre continues to grow in popularity. To keep players engaged long-term, they plan to release substantial updates, called “Episodes,” every two months. These updates will include new characters (“Wardens”), weapons, and locations to attack and defend, with the second episode arriving just two weeks after the game launches.

Whether Highguard will truly succeed remains to be seen, but it doesn’t need to become a massive hit with gamers to achieve its goals. It can grow steadily without needing instant, widespread popularity.

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2026-01-27 00:09