New Free-to-Play Shooter Launches on Steam with 97K Players

Key Takeaways

1. Highguard, a new shooter from Wildlight Entertainment, had a peak of 97,249 players but currently has 71% negative reviews from about 16,500 total reviews.
2. The game features a 3v3 “PvP Raid Shooter” format, combining hero abilities with MOBA-like base assault gameplay.
3. Players criticize the large maps for the 3v3 format, leading to long periods without encounters, and report significant technical issues affecting performance and visuals.
4. Negative feedback may be influenced by high expectations following its showcase at TGA 2025, with some calling it a “self-fulfilling prophecy of hate.”
5. CEO Dusty Welch acknowledges the game’s trailer did not effectively represent gameplay, and the studio is under pressure to improve the game quickly.

When a studio created by the main designers of Titanfall and Apex Legends presents a new shooter, it’s natural for there to be very mixed responses. This is indeed the case as Wildlight Entertainment’s Highguard is currently facing its own challenges on Steam. Released just yesterday, January 26, 2026, the game quickly reached a peak of 97,249 players online. However, that initial excitement turned into irritation rather fast; the game is now buried with about 16,500 reviews, with a shocking 71% of those being negative.

Gameplay Overview

Highguard is what the developers describe as a “PvP Raid Shooter.” It features a 3v3 format that attempts to blend hero abilities found in Apex with the base-assault gameplay typical of a MOBA. Players assume the role of a “Warden” (an arcane gunslinger) and begin each match by choosing and reinforcing a literal castle. The game unfolds in four phases: you first spend a minute strengthening your walls, then two minutes traversing a vast open map on mounts to scavenge for better gear, and finally, you engage in combat for a “Shieldbreaker” sword. If you manage to obtain the sword, a gigantic siege tower appears, and you must spend the last moments trying to destroy the opponent’s power generators before they deactivate your explosives.

Player Reactions

The major issue is that while the concept seems promising, the execution appears lacking based on reviews. Many players are voicing concerns that the maps are excessively large for a 3v3 format, resulting in prolonged periods of “horse-riding simulator” where players don’t encounter another person for five minutes straight. The technical problems are also significant; even with high-performance 50-series graphics cards, the frame rates are dropping, and the heavy reliance on upscaling has made the visuals seem “blurry” and not well-finished. Additionally, the necessity for secure boot due to anti-cheat measures has deterred a substantial number of players right from the outset.

Hype and Expectations

Some of this negative feedback may also stem from the “Game Awards” aftermath. The game was featured in the final “one more thing” segment at TGA 2025, which built up a lot of anticipation. Critics are now labeling it as a “self-fulfilling prophecy of hate,” where a puzzling trailer and even more perplexing gameplay have led players to feel that the developers at Wildlight have lost their way. CEO Dusty Welch has already acknowledged that the initial trailer did not effectively showcase the gameplay loop, but with the Steam rating hovering in the “Mostly Negative” category, the studio is now racing against time to refine the game before the player count drops along with the review scores.

Source:
Link