Highguard’s latest 5v5 update has driven an increase in its daily player base, following its “Overwhelmingly Negative” launch. Read on to learn more about Wildlight’s speedy response to feedback.
Highguard’s 5v5 Update and Performance Fixes Address Launch Criticism
Highguard’s Patch 1.0.4 Expands Gameplay and Addresses Key Launch Issues
Following Highguard’s rocky launch after a series of marketing silence, Wildlight Entertainment was quick to turn things around with their hero-shooter by addressing core issues days after with Patch 1.0.4. its second major update added a limited-time 5v5 game mode that increased the number of players in a match. Moving away from its initial 6 player matches, lobbies can now host a total of 10 players, with 5 members per team. This saw positive feedback among players, saying that, "5v5 is the way the game was meant to be played."
In addition to the 5v5 mode, Wildlight Entertainment addressed several long-standing complaints. These included the lack of FoV sliders on consoles and missing toggle options for ADS and crouching. Patch 1.0.4 also expanded the game’s video settings, as Shadow scalability was lowered, and players can now toggle bloom, chromatic aberration, and anisotropic materials, among other visual enhancements.
When Highguard launched, it was met with an "Overwhelmingly Negative" rating on Steam, based on reviews from more than 1,800 players. While the game had already received negative reception prior to launch with its bizarre lack of marketing, its full release introduced additional issues as well. These included performance problems linked to Unreal Engine 5 and criticism of its limiting 3v3 game mode.
The 3v3 game mode was core to Highguard’s gameplay loop, pitting two teams of three to battle against each other on who could destroy their bases first. It was a novel gameplay approach that mixed elements of tower-defense, looters, and hero-shooters. While some players enjoyed the 3v3 format, others found it "too limiting," with critics citing that there were barely any team fights and maps that "felt empty" due to its number of players.
Renewed Player Reception Signals Early Recovery for Highguard
Highguard peaked at 97,000 players during its launch according to SteamDB estimates, but immediately fell to less than 10,000 users two days after. The Patch 1.0.4. Update launched four days after, and its Steam numbers are showing signs of growth, seeing over 11,000 players in its 24-hour peak.
Following the Patch 1.0.4. update, player reception has changed. According to Steam’s data, it is now sitting at "Mixed," from over 26,000 reviews. It has also gained a new peak of player count with 15,000 users playing when the 5v5 dropped. This sends a good sign to its overall health, as Wildlight Entertainment is actively addressing key issues to Highguard days after launch.
Fans quickly applauded the development team for its speedy response. Some users also pushed back against what they described as an "extremely large and unwarranted hate train," claiming the game was hit by review bombing from players with less than two hours of playtime.
Now, many players believe that a "comeback is coming" as Highguard’s daily playercount has hovered around 10,000 users.
It remains unclear whether Highguard can sustain its recent growth following these updates. However, with the steady rollout of patches and the studio’s ambitious 2026 roadmap, it suggests that Wildlight Entertainment still plans to continue and look towards Highguard’s future despite its rocky launch.
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