A significant online backlash has emerged against Wildlight's newly launched game, Highguard, a free-to-play PvP raid shooter that debuted on January 26, 2026. Despite peaking at 97,249 concurrent users on Steam, the game has received a "mostly negative" user review score, primarily due to complaints about its map size, resource-gathering phases, and gameplay downtime. Notable developers from studios like Larian and Epic Games have publicly defended Highguard, criticizing the culture of hating on new game releases. They argue that creative developers deserve respect and that constructive criticism should not devolve into personal attacks. Wildlight acknowledges the challenges ahead as it aims to improve the game with future updates while addressing user concerns.

What are the main criticisms surrounding Highguard's gameplay?

The primary criticisms of Highguard involve its map feeling too large and empty for 3v3 battles, a tedious resource-gathering phase, and performance issues, which have led to players questioning the overall excitement of the game.

Highguard is a new PvP raid shooter that entered the gaming scene with high expectations, following its reveal at The Game Awards. Marketed as a thrilling free-to-play title, the game faces significant pressure to meet player expectations while battling early criticisms. As a live-service title, it holds the potential for substantial future updates and community engagement to rectify initial perceptions. The game's development studio, Wildlight, plans to address these challenges by implementing a roadmap of content for 2026 as they strive to win back player trust and enhance the gaming experience.