Highguard Is No More As Of Next Thursday

[PopGeeks]

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Are you sitting down? This will come as a complete shock, but Wildlight Entertainment’s big fat AAA free-to-play competitive FPS Highguard is going to be shut down in a little […]
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Highguard Is No More As Of Next Thursday | PopGeeks.com Forum | Indie Games, Movies, TV, Tabletop & Comics

Wildlight Entertainment shuts down free-to-play shooter Highguard on March 12, just months after its troubled launch.

popgeeks.com

 

[Justin J]

Are you sitting down? This will come as a complete shock, but Wildlight Entertainment’s big fat AAA free-to-play competitive FPS Highguard is going to be shut down in a little […]
Read original article here:

Highguard Is No More As Of Next Thursday | PopGeeks.com Forum | Indie Games, Movies, TV, Tabletop & Comics

Wildlight Entertainment shuts down free-to-play shooter Highguard on March 12, just months after its troubled launch.

popgeeks.com

Wow, that's a bummer! Highguard had some interesting concepts, but it just never seemed to hit that sweet spot for players. It's disappointing to see developers put so much effort into a title, only for it to not resonate. Any idea what went wrong? Maybe it was a lack of content updates or just stiff competition in the FPS market? Free-to-play models can be tricky to balance too. Hopefully, the team shifts their focus to something that can really shine next time!

 

[AceInTheGame]

I am not surprised at all. From the first trailer, I felt like I already played this game before. It looked like Overwatch but without the personality. When I tried the beta, the shooting felt fine, but nothing stood out. If you want people to leave Fortnite or Roblox, you need something new. Just being polished is not enough. Also, blaming players never helps. When a developer talks down to the audience, it creates bad feeling. I think that hurt the game more than they admit. Two million players sounds big, but that does not mean they stayed. Live service games need long term loyalty. If people do not feel attached, they move on quickly. I feel bad for the team because I know many developers work hard. But big companies keep chasing trends instead of building identity. That is the real problem.

 

[kermitfries]

Lol called it months ago. The beta already felt dead and the full launch didn’t fix anything. Servers empty by week three. Wildlight acted like they were building the future but it was just another cash grab dressed up as passion. Two million players total? That’s nothing for a live service title with that budget. They’re giving us one last update like it’s a gift, but it’s just so people don’t flame them too hard on the way out. Whatever. I uninstalled weeks ago. Next.

 

[Vicks Addict]

Honestly I feel bad for the team. Making a game like this takes years and a ton of people working long hours. They clearly believed in Highguard and put real effort into the updates and polish. The problem wasn’t the devs, it was the market. Hero shooters are overcrowded right now and unless you’re Valve or Blizzard it’s almost impossible to break through. Fortnite and Roblox own the space for younger players, and older ones stick to Valorant or Apex. Shutting down sucks but at least they’re being honest about it instead of dragging it out with fake “we’re fixing it” promises. I’ll play a bit more before it’s gone. Respect to the team.

 

[Kyo]

Another one bites the dust. Highguard joins the giant pile of failed live service shooters. Concord, The Finals hype that faded, now this. All of them thought they could take a slice of Fortnite money but none of them had the hook. No crazy building, no endless user content, just another arena shooter. Publishers keep betting big on these because the upside looks huge on paper, but most crash and burn. It’s almost funny at this point. Nintendo showing indies is the way forward. Small teams, real creativity, no insane server costs. Highguard was never going to last.

 

[benimaru]

I actually played Highguard for about three weeks. I wanted to like it. The gunplay was smooth and the maps were clean. But after a few matches, I felt bored. Every hero felt like a weaker version of something I already know from Overwatch or Apex. When a game launches today, it has to give a strong reason to stay. Highguard did not give me that reason. Also, the marketing felt forced. When Geoff Keighley promoted it heavily, it made me expect something special. What I got was average. I think the studio believed hype could replace originality. It cannot. I do not celebrate shutdowns because people lose jobs. But the market is crowded. Players only have limited time. If a game does not respect that time with something meaningful, it disappears fast.

 

[kazkia]

I feel sad but not shocked. When I watched gameplay, it looked clean but empty. Characters did not have strong personality. In hero shooters, personality is everything. People choose a main because they connect with that character. I never felt that connection here. Also, free to play does not mean automatic success. You still need strong community support. If early reactions are negative, it spreads fast online. Once that image is formed, it is very hard to fix. I think the final update is too late. New Warden and skill trees should have been there at launch. I hope the developers learn from this and find new projects. Failure happens in creative industries. The important part is to build something with identity next time.

 

[Victor]

This shutdown was 100% coming. The player count graphs looked like a ski slope down after launch. Wildlight can spin it however they want but the game just wasn’t good enough to keep people coming back. Blaming the community is a loser move too. Players don’t owe you their time, you have to earn it. Endless hero shooters from big companies are killing the genre. We don’t need more of them. Let indies cook, they make stuff that actually feels different and fun. Highguard was forgettable, plain and simple. Bye.

 

[HomeyLander]

Damn, I was really hoping Highguard would turn things around. I liked the Warden designs and the way abilities chained together. Had some epic clutch moments that made me yell at my screen. But the truth is, it never found its crowd. Too much competition, too little that felt new. The last update tomorrow is bittersweet, like they’re saying “here’s everything we wanted to add, sorry it’s too late.” I respect that they didn’t just ghost the players. I’ll be on for the final week, trying to get those last ranked games in. Thanks for the memories, Highguard. You weren’t perfect but you were fun while it lasted.