One concept circulating on-line in regards to the newly launched free-to-play fantasy shooter Highguard is that Geoff Keighley–the host and organizer of The Recreation Awards the place the sport was first revealed–has some form of private monetary stake within the recreation or its developer.
Keighley was requested straight-up just lately if this was the case, and he replied, “lol completely not.”
It has been reported from multiple sources that Highguard studio Wildlight did not have to pay a penny to indicate the sport at The Recreation Awards in December 2025. That is notable due to how costly regular slots are at The Recreation Awards. What’s extra, Highguard was the ultimate reveal of The Recreation Awards. These parts contributed to some individuals believing–based on no actual evidence–that Keighley had some private stake within the recreation and was selling it closely due to that.
What occurred after The Recreation Awards
After The Recreation Awards, developer Wildlight went darkish and did not resurface in a major means till Highguard’s launch day on January 26. Then, interviews with the studio flooded the web, together with one during which CEO Dusty Welch mentioned the trailer proven at The Recreation Awards did not do a ok job of explaining what Highguard was all about. “We may have made one thing that did a greater job of highlighting the distinctive loop of the sport. In order that’s on us. We take that, however the staff is resilient,” Welch informed PC Gamer.
Welch additionally talked about Wildlight’s relationship with Keighley, saying he’s a “pal of the studio” and performed the sport previous to launch. “He cherished it,” Welch mentioned.
“So when he mentioned, ‘Look, I would like to do one thing completely different and put an indie studio and a free-to-play recreation up right here and put it within the present,’ I imply, as an indie who was unknown by alternative, who would not soar on the likelihood to do this? This is the largest platform [in gaming], proper?” Welch mentioned.
Wildlight informed GameSpot that Highguard was deliberate to be a shadowdrop like Apex Legends–which a number of the Highguard builders labored on previously–but plans modified after Keighley pitched the staff on the thought of a displaying at The Recreation Awards.
“Look, it did not go in addition to we thought clearly, and I suppose a part of that is the spot that it was put in and a part of that is on us, which we personal,” Welch mentioned. “Maybe we made a spot that was extra about entertaining, after which much less in regards to the loop. And in order that’s on us. We personal that.”
Epic boss defends Keighley
Two days earlier than Highguard’s launch, Keighley stirred issues up on-line by posting a Jurassic Park GIF in regards to the John Hammond line, “In 48 hours, I will be accepting your apologies.” In the film, Hammond says this after individuals like Dr. Ian Malcolm and others doubted Hammond’s imaginative and prescient for the park full of killer dinosaurs. In essence, Keighley was reacting to the individuals doubting Highguard, however his publish was mocked as a result of individuals shortly identified how issues ended very badly in Jurassic Park, with the suggestion that one thing comparable may occur with Highguard.
Loads of individuals roasted Keighley for his feedback, and others defended him. One in every of his highest-profile defenders was Mark Rein, the vp and co-founder of Fortnite and Unreal Engine developer Epic Video games. He said it is “massively unwarranted and fully unfair” to hate on Keighley for being so optimistic and captivated with Highguard.
“He’s helped create massively huge advertising channels for the online game {industry}. He did a grand and unselfish favor to assist a recreation for which he noticed big potential,” Rein mentioned. “He is an agent of positivity for our total industry–which is way wanted.”
As for the sport itself, Rein mentioned individuals ought to give Wildlight time to prepare dinner. “It prices nothing to come back again and check out the sport once more after just a few updates. Potential would not die within the first week of any ongoing recreation’s launch except imply spirited individuals achieve shaming everybody else to keep away from it,” he mentioned.
“We must be hopeful towards new video games, not hurtful. In case your grievance is about one thing the developer can repair then give them the good thing about the doubt they may repair it and are available again strive it once more in the event that they do.”
Highguard’s outcomes to this point, and what’s coming subsequent
Highguard peaked at greater than 97,000 concurrent customers on Steam on launch day, and we do not know the way the sport is acting on PS5 and Xbox Collection X|S. Regardless of the case, the studio has mentioned it is not overly involved with reaching large participant numbers.
Welch has informed followers that they will anticipate Highguard to stay round for some time. “We’re not going anyplace,” he mentioned. It is a concern held by many provided that live-service video games spin up and shut down pretty recurrently within the ultra-competitive free-to-play multiplayer setting.
Wildlight has additionally introduced a year-one roadmap for Highguard, which incorporates new maps, characters, weapons, and mounts to come back on a semi-regular foundation all year long.
Like different free video games, Highguard is supported by microtransactions. Nevertheless, the sport has no loot containers or advertisements.