January 29, 2026
Highguard Sees Massive Player Drop, But the Game’s Future Is Still Unwritten
🎮 Highguard’s Rocky Launch and Early Perception
Highguard made its debut as the surprise “one last thing” reveal at The Game Awards 2025. While that slot usually generates hype, it may have worked against the game. Many players quickly compared it to other recent live-service shooters that struggled, creating skepticism before Highguard even had a chance to prove itself.
The game also launched just over a month after being revealed, an unusually fast turnaround. This meant limited time to build long-term excitement or properly manage expectations. As a result, public opinion formed quickly, and not always in Highguard’s favor.
⚙️ Technical Issues and Matchmaking Struggles
At launch, Highguard attracted tens of thousands of players, which ended up overwhelming servers and matchmaking systems. These technical problems led to frustrating experiences for many early adopters, contributing to negative reviews and review bombing.
For a live-service hero shooter, early stability is critical. When players encounter long queues, failed matches, or connection issues, they are far less likely to stick around. These problems played a major role in the sharp early decline.
📉 Player Count Drops, But Context Matters
Highguard peaked at just over 97,000 concurrent players at launch. Recent data shows that number has dropped to under 20,000 at its daily peak, representing roughly an 80% decline.
While that sounds alarming, context is important:
- The game is still significantly outperforming some recent failed live-service titles
- A free-to-play model lowers the barrier for players to return
- Early drops are common in live-service launches, especially after technical issues
Compared to other shooters that never gained traction, Highguard still has a meaningful active player base.
🔫 Core Gameplay and Free-to-Play Advantage
One of Highguard’s biggest strengths is its core gameplay. Despite monetization complaints common to live-service games, many players agree that the shooting mechanics are solid and the overall experience is fast-paced and exciting.
Being free-to-play also gives Highguard a major edge. Players are more likely to give it a second chance after patches and updates, especially if word of mouth improves. Strong gameplay fundamentals give Wildlight Entertainment something to build on.
🗺️ 2026 Roadmap and Ongoing Content Support
Wildlight Entertainment has already shared aggressive post-launch plans for Highguard. The 2026 roadmap includes:
- New playable characters added regularly
- Frequent content updates
- Ongoing improvements to systems and balance
Consistent content drops are essential for keeping players engaged and attracting returning users. If Wildlight delivers on this roadmap, Highguard could stabilize and potentially grow its community over time.
🧪 Weekend Performance as a Key Test
Highguard launched on a Monday, which is not ideal for peak gaming activity. The upcoming weekend will be one of the first real tests of the game’s long-term potential.
If technical issues are improved and matchmaking becomes smoother, the game could see a short-term rebound as more players log in and give it another shot. A strong weekend could help reset early momentum.
🧠 Final Thoughts
Highguard’s early player decline is concerning, but it’s far too soon to write the game off. With solid core gameplay, a free-to-play model, and an ambitious content roadmap, the shooter still has a path forward.
Whether it becomes a long-term success like Overwatch or struggles to maintain relevance remains to be seen. What’s clear is that Highguard’s story is still being written, and the next few months will be critical in determining its future.