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Highguard, the newly released free-to-play shooter from Wildlight Entertainment, has endured a rocky debut. Within hours of hitting Steam, the title was met with a wave of “Mostly Negative” reviews. However, in the face of this backlash, prominent figures across the gaming industry are coming forward to defend the project and its creators.
The conversation gained traction when Baldur’s Gate 3 director Swen Vincke expressed his disdain for the trend of “celebrating failure.” Vincke noted that while it is effortless to tear something down, the act of building a game is an immense undertaking—a sentiment that clearly resonates with his peers.
Thomas Puha, the communications director at Remedy Entertainment (the studio behind Alan Wake 2), shared a similar outlook on social media. He criticized the modern media landscape for its fixation on declining player counts and negative narratives.
“It is easy to cheer for a failure because it makes people feel vindicated in their cynicism,” Douse continued. “But game development is fueled by optimism. If that enthusiasm vanishes alongside shrinking budgets, the industry will be in a very difficult place.”
Despite the initial friction, there is evidence that Highguard might be finding its footing. Wildlight Entertainment has stated they are actively listening to community feedback and are preparing a substantial patch to address the most requested features and technical hurdles.
Optimism is the lifeblood of this industry. While it’s easy to mock a messy launch, we need to preserve the drive to create. January 28, 2026
Crucially, the data tells a more nuanced story than the headlines suggest. When Steam reviews are filtered to include only players with more than three hours of playtime, Highguard’s rating jumps from “Mostly Negative” to “Mostly Positive.” This suggests that those who spend significant time with the mechanics are finding plenty to enjoy.
As Wildlight works to stabilize the experience, the industry’s defense serves as a reminder that even the most troubled launches can lead to long-term success with the right support and persistence.
Looking for your next obsession? Check out our list of the most anticipated new games of 2024 and beyond.
Source: gamesradar.com
