Highguard, a new free-to-play "raid shooter" developed by Wildlight, a studio comprised of veterans from Titanfall and Apex Legends, made an unexpected debut as the capstone of The Game Awards 2025. While the show is known for game reveals, Highguard's appearance was a departure from Wildlight's initial plan to stealth-launch the game. This decision, influenced by Geoff Keighley, a friend of the studio, aimed to spotlight an independent title on a major platform. Despite a mixed reception to its reveal trailer, Wildlight remains committed to allowing the game to speak for itself now that it's available for players to experience.
Wildlight's initial strategy for Highguard was a "shadowdrop," mirroring the successful surprise launch of Apex Legends. Dusty Welch, Wildlight's founder and CEO, revealed this intention in a recent interview. However, Keighley, who has a long-standing relationship with Welch dating back to the first Titanfall and even authored a book about Respawn Entertainment, presented Wildlight with an irresistible proposal. Keighley, having visited the studio during Highguard's development and expressing admiration for the game, suggested a prominent placement at The Game Awards. He viewed it as a unique, albeit potentially risky, opportunity to promote an indie free-to-play title on a grand stage.
Accepting Keighley's offer meant a significant pivot from the original shadowdrop plan. Welch acknowledged that turning down the finale slot at The Game Awards, with its immense awareness-generating potential, would have been imprudent. This shift necessitated a hurried creation of a trailer specifically for the event. Welch admitted that the rushed trailer, intended to entertain, might not have effectively conveyed the game's core gameplay loop in that setting, which contributed to some of the critical feedback.
The reception to the Highguard trailer was indeed varied, with some on social media questioning if it might become another live-service misstep. Despite the initial negative reactions, Wildlight expressed no regrets about their decision to showcase the game at The Game Awards. Welch highlighted the team's experience and resilience in facing the feedback, stating they chose to remain silent, absorb the criticism, and learn from it. The studio's ultimate goal was always for Highguard to demonstrate its quality and appeal through direct gameplay. Now that the game is freely accessible on PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X, players have the opportunity to form their own opinions.
Ultimately, Wildlight's focus remains on the game itself. They believe that by making Highguard available to play, individuals can experience it firsthand and determine its merits, rather than relying solely on the initial trailer's impression.
