The new free-to-play shooter Highguard achieved a peak of nearly 100,000 concurrent players during its Steam launch, but the strong debut was soured by thousands of negative user reviews, as reported by Video Games Chronicle. The game, which launched this week on PC and consoles, currently holds a ‘Mostly Negative’ rating on Valve’s PC platform.
A surprise Game Awards reveal
Highguard first gained attention when it was revealed as the final announcement at The Game Awards in December. This closing slot is typically reserved for major, well-known franchises, so its placement as a debut title from a new studio generated significant discussion. Following the reveal, developer Wildlight Entertainment remained quiet, building anticipation for the unannounced release date.
High player count, low review scores
According to data from SteamDB, the Highguard Steam launch saw a peak of 97,249 concurrent players. While these numbers represent a strong start for a new IP, the player reception tells a different story. At the time of writing, only 32% of the more than 19,000 reviews on Steam are positive. The most common criticism focuses on the game’s core design, with many players stating that the maps are too large for the 3v3 team matchups, leading to slow-paced encounters.
Who is Wildlight Entertainment?
Highguard was developed by Wildlight Entertainment, a California-based studio staffed by industry veterans. The team includes former developers from Respawn Entertainment, known for their work on Apex Legends and Titanfall, as well as talent from studios that worked on the Call of Duty franchise. The studio’s formation signals a focus on creating AAA shooter experiences.