A variety of high-profile online game builders have defended Highguard amid a web based backlash throughout the sport’s launch.
The free-to-play “PvP raid shooter” was the large new sport reveal at the finish of final month’s The Game Awards, however developer Wildlight then went darkish till the January 26 launch date in a bid to channel the profitable shadowdrop of Apex Legends again in 2019.
At launch, Highguard hit a peak of 97,249 concurrent customers on Steam — a vital quantity for any new sport launch on Valve’s platform — however at the similar time Wildlight has had to take care of a “largely detrimental” person overview score. In the meantime, Steam concurrents have fallen, and Highguard has slipped out of the high 100 most-played video games checklist on Valve’s platform.
Chief amongst the criticisms from gamers is that the measurement of the map feels too large and empty for a 3v3 aggressive shooter. You’re in a position to summon a mount to get about quicker (the mounts are one facet of Highguard that gamers appear to universally like), however some consider a 4v4, 5v5, and even 3v3v3 mode would have been a higher match.
There are additionally complaints about the resource-gathering part of every map, which entails what some are calling boring mining and loot farming. The gist right here is there may be an excessive amount of downtime and a lack of pleasure, though gamers appear to be having fun with the raid part of every match, the place fight is concentrated. There may be additionally criticism of the design of the playable characters, Highguard’s artwork path, and a lack of content material — as effectively as efficiency issues notably on PC.
By way of all of it is a feeling that Highguard maybe suffered from being the “another factor” reveal at The Game Awards, the place it may need higher managed expectations in a slot earlier in the present. Wildlight workers have indicated they initially deliberate a true Apex Legends-style shadowdrop for Highguard, however The Game Awards chief Geoff Keighley requested the crew about that includes it at the finish of the present. Keighley has subsequently suffered a backlash of his personal, with some feeling Highguard’ place in The Game Awards’ operating order overly hyped the sport.
Opening X this morning! pic.twitter.com/NQXGvOvjYL
— Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley) January 27, 2026
Now, builders from the likes of Baldur’s Gate 3 studio Larian as effectively as Fortnite maker Epic have hit out at the discourse surrounding Highguard, and the web’s capability to “hate” on video video games at launch. Developers like Cliff Bleszinski of Gears of Battle fame, Epic government Mark Rein, and Larian boss Swen Vincke spoke up towards, particularly, negativity from critics.
“I don’t like folks s****ing on issues others have created,” Vincke tweeted. “Placing one thing out into the world makes you weak, and that alone deserves respect, even in the event you dislike the creation. It’s simple to destroy issues, it’s a lot tougher to construct them. One of the best critics perceive this. Even after they’re being vital, they do their finest not to be hurtful.”
Vincke went on to suggest a Metacritic-style scoring system for reviewers, based mostly on how others consider their criticism. “I like to think about it could encourage a bit extra restraint,” he stated. “The tough phrases do actual injury. You should not have to develop callus on your soul simply since you need to publish one thing.”
He continued: “And sure — I get that if persons are charging cash, you need to know if it is good or not. However reviewers can simply say — I did not get pleasure from it or I do not assume it is effectively made or I do not assume it is value the cash they’re charging. That is sufficient. No want to get private for the sake of some likes.“
And in a follow-up post, Vincke added: “What I am making an attempt to say is that almost all artistic souls are delicate souls and people delicate souls are the ones that care the most. Once they try as a result of they cannot deal with the vitriol, all of us lose as a result of what’s left are people who do not care. The impact the phrases have on these delicate souls is probably not underestimated. You don’t need them to lose their idealism and love of gamers.
“There’s different methods of coping with participant exploitation. Not enjoying the video games might be the finest one. You do not have to verbally harm the folks behind the sport to categorical your disdain. If sufficient folks cease enjoying the video games that do not respect gamers, these in cost will get the message and alter course quickly. There’s sufficient different video games there.”
Cliff Bleszinski, whose personal stay service shooter LawBreakers was a business failure, main to the closure of his studio, asked: “When did it develop into stylish to hate on a new sport? Been seeing it increasingly in recent times. It’s exhausting.”
“It’s downright horrible,” Mark Rein, vp and co-founder of Epic Video games, commented. “Particularly a FREE sport from a new studio. Simply so unhappy. That is a pastime for folks, they need to strategy with pleasure not hatred.”
The fact is that Wildlight faces an uphill problem turning on-line sentiment about its stay service shooter round, and the studio might be notably involved by Highguard’s Steam person overview score, which stays ‘largely detrimental.’ At present, 37% of the 19,439 person evaluations are constructive; Wildlight plans to proceed to replace Highguard with varied patches, and has introduced its 2026 roadmap of content material.
In the meantime, Keighley responded to one particular person on social media who requested if he had a monetary stake in Highguard’s success. “lol completely not,” he stated.
Wesley is Director, Information at IGN. Discover him on Twitter at @wyp100. You possibly can attain Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.