Highguard
News, coverage and analysis tracking Highguard across the outlets.
Ex-Naughty Dog artist who helped design characters for Highguard promises to keep fighting the good fight - just not in the live-service sphere, anymoreFormer Naughty Dog artist Del Walker, who contributed to games like The Last of Us Part 2, is stepping away from live-service game development following the shutdown of Highguard. Walker, known for his character designs, stated he will continue to focus on creating diverse characters, particularly Black women, but will no longer invest his energy into games that risk disappearing shortly after launch. Highguard, a 3v3 shooter, was shut down just weeks after its January release due to dwindling player numbers and funding issues, mirroring the fate of other live-service titles like Sony's Concord.
Highguard Vanishes from Steam Store, Sparking Community ConcernsThe game Highguard has been removed from the Steam store, sparking concerns within the gaming community about digital preservation. While players who already own the game can still access it, the removal highlights the ongoing challenges of game availability on digital storefronts. The exact reasons for Highguard's disappearance remain officially undisclosed, leaving players and advocates to speculate on the implications for long-term game access.- Highguard (XS) Review | VGChartzHighguard is a rewarding hero shooter that blends various personalities, though its identity conflicts with player engagement. Despite an unrealized roadmap, the game offers a compelling experience that encourages players to continue for 'just one more game'.
Highguard (XS) Review | VGChartzThis review of Highguard criticizes the disproportionate amount of hate directed towards games, particularly live service titles, by players who claim not to care. The author argues that this negativity, seen across both single-player and live service games, has a more detrimental impact on the industry than developers creating more live service games.
Former Highguard dev who called out grave-dancing over the reveal trailer says the discourse 'had some very dark corners that may have accelerated the timeline of our failure,' but adds, 'it wasn't the primary cause'Former Highguard lead technical artist Josh Sobel has clarified his earlier statements regarding the game's demise, admitting his initial reaction to criticism was a mistake fueled by stress. While acknowledging that online discourse may have accelerated the game's failure, he stated it was not the primary cause, attributing the outcome to multiple factors and the game's release in a crowded genre.
How Marathon avoids the mistake that Concord and Highguard madeMarathon is praised for avoiding the "Blorko" problem that affected Concord and Highguard by implementing a unique "Shells" mechanic for combat avatars. The game, developed by Bungie, launched on March 5, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, offering a fresh take on shooter gameplay with depth and flexibility. The article also briefly mentions other games like Crabmeat, Pragmata, Fortnite, Super Mario Lego, Never's End, Crimson Desert, and the lawsuit against Valve regarding lootboxes.
Highguard technical artist returns to social media, apologizes for his "misdirected" anger about the game's troubled launchHighguard technical artist Josh Sobel has apologized on X/Twitter for his public anger regarding the hero shooter's troubled launch and subsequent cancellation. Sobel, who had been absent for a month, admitted his online outburst was "misdirected" and poorly phrased due to stress, though he stands by the intent behind his criticisms of external narratives impacting the game.
One of Marathon's best tricks? It dodges the "Blorko" problem that doomed Concord and HighguardBungie's upcoming shooter Marathon distinguishes itself from recent hero shooter failures like Concord and Highguard by focusing on functional 'Shells' rather than heavily marketed individual characters. This approach allows players to engage with distinct playstyles without the pressure of immediately bonding with pre-defined personalities, a strategy that has proven challenging for other games in the genre.
As Highguard Enters Final Day, Dev Says Online Discourse "Accelerated The Timeline Of Our Failure"Wildlight developer Josh Sobel discussed the factors contributing to the failure of the free-to-play game Highguard, acknowledging that while online discourse may have accelerated its demise, it was not the primary cause. Sobel also addressed his previous controversial comments, calling his initial post a mistake due to stress and poor phrasing. The article also notes Tencent's withdrawal of funding and the game's struggle with revenue.
Is Marathon Heading for the Same Fate as Concord and Highguard? | Invision Game CommunityThe article analyzes the challenges faced by new live-service multiplayer shooters, using Concord and Highguard as examples of recent failures. It discusses how Marathon, Bungie's upcoming extraction shooter, faces similar retention hurdles despite initial testing interest, and its success hinges on Bungie's experience with Destiny 2 and creating a compelling gameplay loop.
Just like Concord, Highguard is checking out; will Marathon go the same way?The article discusses the challenges faced by games like Concord and Highguard, suggesting they may suffer a similar fate to Marathon due to premature grand launches without sufficient traction. It criticizes the generic visual identity of such games and advocates for a more humble, gradual development approach.- MMO Week in Review: Midnight’s proper launch, Ashes of Creation’s legal battleThis week's MMO news roundup covers the official launch of World of Warcraft Midnight, a legal battle involving Ashes of Creation's former boss Steven Sharif, and the debuts of Bungie's Marathon and Equinox Homecoming. Several games, including Highguard and Eldegarde, are also announced to be sunsetting.
Highguard is shutting down less than two months after launchWildlight Entertainment has announced that its free-to-play raid shooter Highguard will be shutting down its servers on March 12th, 2026, less than two months after its launch. Despite a passionate team and a final update planned, the game failed to build a sustainable player base, with funding from Tencent reportedly being pulled. Performance issues and controversial early gameplay decisions contributed to a poor first impression for the live service title.
Marathon PS5 User Reviews Remarkably Positive After String of Live Service DisastersMarathon has received a largely positive user reception on the PlayStation Store and Steam, with a 4.77 rating from 3k reviews on PS Store and 'Very Positive' on Steam. This contrasts with the mixed reviews for other recent live service shooters like Highguard and Concord. While player retention remains to be seen, Marathon had a strong launch day player count on Steam.
Highguard: Why Wildlight’s Hero Shooter Collapsed in Under 50 Days | Invision Game CommunityWildlight Entertainment's hero shooter Highguard collapsed less than two months after its launch, despite initial hype and strong player numbers on PC via Steam. The game suffered from gameplay flaws, balancing issues, repetitive maps, and poor matchmaking, compounded by fierce competition in the crowded hero shooter market. Internal struggles, including layoffs, further hampered the developer's ability to support the live-service title, leading to community backlash and a swift shutdown.
Was Highguard Always Doomed To Fail?The developers of Highguard have announced the permanent shutdown of the game on March 12. Over 2 million players have engaged with Highguard's world since its launch. The team expressed gratitude for player feedback and belief in their project.
2XKO is no longer in PlayStation 6 top downloads charts and nobody is remotely shockedRiot Games' 2XKO has fallen off PlayStation's download charts, indicating lower-than-expected popularity for the 2v2 fighting game. Despite attempts to market it as a mainstream title and introduce expensive cosmetic skins, the game struggles to gain traction beyond the dedicated fighting game community, leading to layoffs and questions about its long-term viability.
Highguard Shutdown Proves Sony’s Live-Service Strategy Is FailingThe shutdown of Highguard highlights Sony's struggling live-service strategy, with players and critics pointing to a market oversaturated with online-only games. This trend is blamed for studio layoffs and a lack of compelling single-player exclusives on PlayStation 5, despite the success of narrative-driven titles like The Last of Us and Elden Ring.- You’ve got a whopping one week to play Highguard’s last patch, hero, and account progression systemWildlight has released the final update for its hero shooter Highguard, introducing an account progression system, a new hero named Koldo, and a new gun. The game is scheduled to shut down on March 12th, after a brief 45-day lifespan, due to an inability to build a sustainable player base despite an initial surge in popularity.
- Morning PatchesSeveral games have received new updates and patches. Delta Force has launched its mid-season update, EA SPORTS FC 26 released Title Update v1.5.0, Highguard has received its final patch, and Human Fall Flat added a new free Viking-themed level.