Highguard has dropped off the radar since its finale stunt at The Game Awards, with only two weeks remaining until its launch. Read on to uncover the details surrounding its disappearance.
Highguard Absence Despite Looming Release Draws Confusion
From TGA ‘Finale Flop’ to Withdrawing Updates
Highguard updates and promotions have been under total darkness, even as the game inches closer to its launch on January 26, 2026. It is now past the halfway point between its first look at The Game Awards (TGA) 2025 and its release date—and still, none of Highguard's main accounts or pages have teased any news.
The lack of follow-up has raised questions, given Highguard's placement as TGA 2025's finale reveal, a slot typically reserved for high-profile announcements from major studios. The upcoming free-to-play hero shooter by Wildlight Entertainment first made the headlines at the said event for pulling what audiences claim to be an anticlimactic wrap-up.
Audiences initially expected a major surprise set for a years-later release. Crowd enthusiasm rose with the game's introduction as a new project by the creators of Apex Legends and Titanfall, on top of host Geoff Keighley remarking "I've played it, and after you see this trailer, I think you're gonna want to as well." However, what greeted them instead was a shooter game in covert development for four years and slated to launch in a month.
Discussions about public disappointment can be found on Reddit and in the comment sections of Highguard’s account on Twitter (X). Viewers deemed the graphics to be "generic, 2010s-looking" and expressed fatigue with the hero-shooter genre, especially considering the finale’s prominence. Some questioned whether the reveal was mistimed, with one user even asking if it was simply an off-season April Fools’ gag.
Low Engagement on Steam Pre-Launch
⚫︎ Note: Image from SteamDB
Early pre-launch engagement metrics indicate limited momentum for Highguard despite the publicity. On Steam, it ranked #271 in top wishlists and #380 in wishlist activity, with approximately 7,600 followers. Twitch stats reveal an all-time peak of only six users dated 23 days ago.
These numbers come amid the game’s continued absence from public-facing platforms since TGA. The last tweet made by its official account (with almost 6,000 followers) was on December 12, which aligned with the buzz surrounding the year-end event. The same applies to its Japanese Twitter/X account (with around 80 followers), YouTube channel (with around 1,300 subscribers), and official website.
From the game’s under-the-wraps production to its zero online activity, their questionable marketing choices have prompted users to comment and speculate. While it is impossible to shadow drop a game with a set release date, users suggested that a re-reveal could reset public perception following the game’s initial reception.
Highguard is an upcoming free-to-play PvP raid shooter scheduled for a January 26, 2026 release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. To stay up to date with the latest information about the game, check out our article below.
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Highguard World Premiere Trailer from The Game Awards 2025
Reddit post: Why did everyone hate the Highguard reveal?
Reddit post: ‘Highguard’ Is MIA Since The Game Awards, Despite Its Imminent Release
Twitter post: ‘I feel so bad for this game’
Highguard Steam stats
