Highguard
News, coverage and analysis tracking Highguard across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Wardogs sold over 1 million copies in its first 24 hours, making its launch a bright spot in an otherwise tough year for…
Wardogs has achieved a strong launch, selling 1.25 million copies within its first 24 hours. Despite initial server issues that led to negative reviews, the multiplayer FPS developed by Bulkhead is highlighted as a success in a year that has seen other competitive shooters struggle. The game's flexible approach to gameplay and its unique in-game economy are cited as key factors in its strong performance.
'I honestly thought Highguard looked pretty good' — Gears of War creator laments internet culture where…
Gears of War creator Cliff Bleszinski laments the current internet culture where players form negative opinions about games like Concord, Highguard, and Horizon Hunters Gathering before release, leading to "dogpiling." He notes that this trend makes it difficult for developers, as the public's minds are often made up before they even have a chance to play the game. Bleszinski believes it's no longer "cool to like something" and that games face intense scrutiny, impacting their reception.
Gamesight: Creators are best predictor for a game's success, not viewership
Marketing platform Gamesight's analysis indicates that the number of active creators producing content by day three of a game's launch is a more reliable predictor of long-term success than total viewership. This metric is particularly crucial for player-versus-player first-person shooter games, where factors like replayability and competitive progression contribute to sustained creator interest and community formation.
In the age of AI and layoffs, playing old games in 2026 is about more than nostalgia
In 2026, the author finds solace in playing older video games as a coping mechanism against the backdrop of AI advancements and widespread layoffs in the industry. This retreat into retro titles like Pokemon Leaf Green and Diablo 2 offers a sense of comfort and nostalgia, providing a temporary escape from the anxieties surrounding the current state of game development and corporate practices. Despite the industry's challenges, the author finds a glimmer of optimism in the progress made regarding representation, workplace conditions, and unionization.
PlayStation – and The Gaming Industry – Just Doesn’t Learn With Live-Service
Despite numerous high-profile failures and significant layoffs within studios like Bungie and Quantic Dream, Sony Interactive Entertainment, led by Hideaki Nishino, remains committed to pursuing live-service games. This strategy is questioned due to past setbacks and the company's historical strength in single-player titles, with concerns that chasing trends is leading to wasted investment and development resources.
PlayStation’s Marathon Bet Looks Like It’s Already Backfiring
Marathon, Bungie's extraction shooter, is struggling to maintain player numbers on Steam despite a recent season update and a free week, falling significantly from its launch peak. The game's high development cost, estimated at $200-250 million, coupled with Sony's reported $765 million in impairment losses related to Bungie's portfolio, suggests significant financial pressure. The article questions the viability of Marathon as a live-service title given its hardcore PvP focus and the market saturation, especially after Destiny 2's end of support.
Perfect Ten: The online game sunsets of 2026 to date
This article lists ten online games, primarily MMORPGs, that have experienced significant end-of-life milestones or full sunsets in 2026. It highlights titles like Occupy White Walls, Destiny 2, and Horizon Worlds, discussing their unique aspects, reasons for closure, and the broader implications for the gaming industry, particularly concerning business models and player engagement.
Talking Point: Sony, Don't Re-Reveal Fairgames at the Next State of Play
This article advises Sony against reintroducing the live service game Fairgames at its upcoming State of Play livestream, suggesting it would be poorly received by the enthusiast audience. The author argues that the PlayStation fanbase is currently resistant to live service titles, citing negative reactions to Horizon Hunters Gathering and Highguard. Instead, Sony should consider a separate, less prominent reveal for Fairgames to give it a better chance of success, focusing on more anticipated single-player titles during the State of Play.
Live Service Game The Cube, Save Us Dies After Just Three Weeks | HappyGamer
The live service game 'The Cube, Save Us' has shut down after only three weeks, highlighting the rapid failures within the genre. This extraction/battle royale hybrid joins other titles like Concord and Highguard in a trend of short-lived online experiences. The article reflects on the saturation of the battle royale market and the challenges live service games face in building sustainable player bases and communities.
'It's really hard to succeed every time' says PUBG director on failure of games like Concord and…
PUBG: Battlegrounds director Taeseok Jang acknowledges the difficulty of achieving success with live-service games, citing recent failures like Concord and Highguard. He views these setbacks as valuable learning opportunities for developers to avoid repeating mistakes. Despite Jang's perspective, PUBG Corporation itself experienced a short-lived live-service title with PUBG: Blindspot.
'A real concern for millions and probably hundreds of millions of European citizens' - Stop Killing Games has its day in European Parliament and it seems to go very well
The initiative Stop Killing Games presented its case for regulation in the European Parliament to address the issue of video games becoming unplayable after sale due to discontinued services. The hearing, which garnered over 1 million European citizen signatures, highlighted concerns about consumer rights and the permanent disabling of sold games, with officials pledging to investigate copyright regulations and potential solutions. Founder Ross Scott emphasized that this practice, exemplified by games like The Crew, results in consumers losing access to products they have paid for without adequate recourse.
Vague Patch Notes: No, ‘foreigners’ are not coming for the American games industry
This article critiques the notion that Asian game developers are poised to overtake the American industry due to their embrace of generative AI. It argues that many Asian companies struggle to penetrate Western markets and that the real issues facing the industry include over-reliance on single titles, fixation on graphics, studio cannibalization, and poor working conditions, rather than external threats.
Snabbkollen – Spelar du något live-service-spel?
This article discusses the live service game model, where companies like Epic Games aim for long-term revenue through free-to-play or initial purchase games. Examples of successful titles include Helldivers 2 and Sea of Thieves, while others like Marvel's Avengers have failed. The piece questions players about their current or past engagement with live service games.
Former Escape From Tarkov dev says "no amount of millions of dollars can save a weak product"
Dmitri Ogorodnikov, co-head of Nomion Games and former developer at Battlestate Games, emphasizes that a game's quality is paramount, stating that marketing cannot save a weak product. He highlights the challenges in the current shooter market, citing examples like Concord and Highguard, and outlines Nomion's strategy for their upcoming game, Rush is Real, to focus on gameplay quality and unique ideas rather than market trends.
PUBG Dev On Highguard And Concord Struggles: It's "Really Hard To Succeed Every Time"
PUBG franchise director Taeseok Jang reflected on the challenges of live-service games, citing the failures of Concord and Highguard as learning experiences. He emphasized the importance of rapid prototyping and community feedback, drawing lessons from PUBG: Blindspot's short early-access period. PUBG Studios plans to expand the PUBG franchise by adding new modes, including a Payday collaboration with Starbreeze, and exploring user-generated content.
PUBG boss was "sad" to see Concord and Highguard get shut down, but hopes to learn from their mistakes
Taeseok Jang, IP franchise director for PUBG at Krafton, expressed sadness over the shutdowns of multiplayer games like Concord and Highguard, noting the inherent difficulty in developing successful multiplayer titles. He highlighted lessons learned from community messaging and the challenges of early access, referencing the short lifespan of PUBG: Blindspot.
News Archives
This article provides a weekly roundup of new video game releases throughout early 2026 and late 2025. It highlights popular titles such as Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, Crimson Desert, Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection, and Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree.
Massively Overthinking: Should gamers shut up about MMOs they don’t play?
Former Blizzard developer Jeff Kaplan stated that gamers should refrain from commenting on games they have not played, a sentiment echoed by some and debated by others. While some agree that uninformed criticism is detrimental, others argue that feedback from non-players can still be valuable for game development and community discourse.
2026 video game release date calendar
This article provides a comprehensive calendar of video game releases scheduled for 2026, including specific dates for titles like Grand Theft Auto 6 in November and early year releases such as Resident Evil Requiem. It details monthly releases across various platforms and lists notable titles with TBD release dates, promising to be updated as new information becomes available.
After leaving Respawn to work on Highguard, a former Apex Legends developer has been rehired by EA
Former Apex Legends developer Derek Bentley has been rehired by Respawn Entertainment at EA after his previous studio, Wildlight Entertainment, shut down its hero shooter Highguard. Bentley will return as a principal environment artist for Apex Legends. This news comes as Apex Legends prepares to end its season updates on the Nintendo Switch.
