Highguard: The Premature Judgment of a Shooter

On December 11, 2025, Highguard was unveiled as the closing reveal of The Game Awards. The announcement caught many by surprise, shifting the spotlight from anticipated single-player titles to a multiplayer "raid shooter."

Despite having only a brief trailer and no playable build, the gaming community has reacted with immediate skepticism. Videos titled "This Game is Cooked" and "It's Worse Than We Thought!" flooded YouTube, signaling a verdict of failure long before the game's release.

The reveal of Highguard broke the traditional mold of The Game Awards' finale. Historically reserved for massive, single-player experiences like Intergalactic or the next Mass Effect, the slot went to a PvP shooter rooted in a mix of fantasy and sci-fi.

The trailer displayed a chaotic mix of genres, featuring SMG-wielding heroes on horseback and floating characters hurling magical spears. The visual style drew immediate comparisons to Overwatch and Concord, with the tagline "A new breed of shooter" flashing across the screen.

Key details from the reveal include:

• A PvP "raid shooter" genre definition
• Visuals blending fantasy elements with sci-fi weaponry
• Heroes riding horses into battle
• Floating characters utilizing magical attacks

The reaction to the Highguard trailer was not kind. A search for the title on YouTube yields almost exclusively negative content, ranging from reaction videos to deep-dive analyses of the trailer's flaws.

This phenomenon highlights a growing trend in the gaming community: a predisposition to dislike new releases that do not perfectly align with specific expectations. The criticism is often fueled by social media algorithms that prioritize rage-bait content over thoughtful analysis.

"Such willingness to dunk on a game for which we only have a single trailer and 10 screenshots displays a complete misunderstanding of (or intentional opposition to) 'a rising tide lifts all boats' mentality."

The negativity persists despite the game's pedigree. Highguard is being developed by Wildlight Entertainment, a studio comprised of veterans from Apex Legends and Titanfall.

Compounding the negative sentiment is the relative silence from Wildlight Entertainment following the reveal. More than a month after the announcement, the game's official YouTube channel contained only the initial teaser.

The channel had amassed just 1,610 subscribers at the time of the original report—a surprisingly low number for a game granted a prime-time slot on gaming's biggest night. Similarly, the official X (formerly Twitter) account boasted only 7,000 followers and had not posted since December 12.

Information regarding the game remains scarce:

• No details on specific characters or abilities
• No maps or environments revealed
• No explanation of how the "raid shooter" mechanics function

This lack of communication stands in stark contrast to the marketing strategy of Apex Legends, which famously benefited from a surprise "shadow drop." It remains unclear if Wildlight is attempting to replicate that lightning-in-a-bottle moment or if the silence is simply a result of early development stages.

The premature dismissal of Highguard reflects a broader cynicism in the industry. While skepticism is natural, the immediate assumption of failure creates a hostile environment for innovation.

There is a distinct irony in the community's reaction. Many who gleefully anticipate a game's failure are often the same voices bemoaning the state of the industry, marked by layoffs and studio closures. If new experiences are immediately written off, the industry risks stagnation.

Consider the trajectory of Bungie's upcoming title, Marathon. Despite a rocky development cycle involving beta tests and plagiarism allegations, the studio has worked quietly to address feedback. The hope is that the shooter pedigree of the developers will translate to a quality product, a sentiment that should arguably extend to Highguard as well.

"If no one is attempting to make new experiences and at least try to deliver on the promise of a 'new breed of shooter', then we’re in a grim place, indeed."

Highguard is scheduled to launch on January 26, 2026. Until then, the debate over its potential quality remains purely speculative.

The core issue remains the lack of patience within the gaming community. Judging a game based solely on a two-minute trailer ignores the complexity of game development and the potential for a title to evolve.

Ultimately, the industry thrives on diversity and risk. While Highguard may or may not become a blockbuster, the instinct to condemn it before it even launches is a disservice to the medium. The true test will occur when players finally get their hands on the game.