The free-to-play PvP raid shooter Highguard launched this week on PC and consoles, drawing early attention from players following its reveal at The Game Awards 2025. According to Steam data, the game reached a peak of around 97,000 concurrent players shortly after release. While the number reflects strong initial interest, the early response from players has been largely critical.
Highguard is developed by Wildlight Entertainment, led by CEO and founder Dusty Welch. The game first faced backlash during its debut as the final trailer of The Game Awards 2025, where many viewers felt the presentation failed to clearly explain its gameplay. In a recent interview with PC Gamer, Welch acknowledged that the studio could have handled the reveal better. He stated that the trailer focused more on spectacle than clearly showing the game’s core loop, and said the team accepted responsibility for that decision.
Following the launch, player feedback on Steam has raised broader concerns. Highguard currently holds a “Mostly Negative” user rating, with only about 32% of reviews recommending the game. A common complaint centers on the large map design, which many players feel does not suit the current 3v3 team format. Several reviews suggest that larger teams, such as 5v5 or 10v10, would better match the scale of the environments.
Performance issues have also been noted, particularly on PC. Players report optimization problems despite the game being built on Unreal Engine 5, which has become a frequent point of criticism in user reviews.
Although Highguard’s launch has been challenging, its future will depend on how Wildlight Entertainment responds to community feedback. Live service titles have recovered from difficult starts before, but meaningful updates and balance changes will be critical. Ongoing patches and developer communication are expected to shape the game’s direction in the coming months.
