Highguard: The New Multiplayer FPS from Titanfall and Apex Legends Veterans Surprise-Released, But What Do Players Think?

Key Takeaways

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Unexpected success: Highguard achieved a high peak of players (97,249) at launch despite minimal pre-launch marketing and community buildup.
Retention issues: The number of active players quickly declined post-launch, indicating difficulties in retaining the initial excitement among players.
Mixed reviews: Steam user feedback is divided, with some praising the games ambition while others criticize technical issues and concerns about the 3v3 format on large maps.
Importance of prompt issue resolution and community building: To ensure Highguards success, Wildlight Entertainment needs to quickly address player concerns and work on cultivating a dedicated player base in the coming weeks.

Surprise Launch of Highguard: Achieves Peak Players but Struggles to Retain Them

Highguard, a new free-to-play FPS developed by Wildlight Entertainment (the studio behind Titanfall and Apex Legends), has launched on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X. The release came as a surprise, with little pre-launch marketing or community buildup, despite its announcement at The Game Awards in 2025. This is atypical for free-to-play titles. The surprise launch garnered significant attention, with Highguard reaching a peak of 97,249 concurrent players on Steam, according to SteamDB. While this figure may not rival that of established free-to-play giants like Fortnite or CS2, it is a notable achievement for a new game launched with little fanfare. However, this initial excitement proved short-lived. Following the launch, the number of active players quickly declined to between 36,000 and 38,000—approximately 60% of its peak. Steam user reviews are largely critical, citing technical issues and concerns with the 3v3 format on large maps, although some players appreciate the game’s ambition. For Highguard to succeed, Wildlight Entertainment will need to address these issues promptly and cultivate a dedicated player base. The coming weeks will be critical in determining whether they can build a lasting player base and avoid the fate of similar titles.

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Specification
Official Name	XCOM: Enemy Unknown
Brief Summary	XCOM: Enemy Unknown will place you in control of a secret paramilitary organization called XCOM. As the XCOM commander, you will defend against a terrifying global alien invasion by managing resources, advancing technologies, and overseeing combat strategies and individual unit tactics. The original XCOM is widely regarded as one of the best games ever made and has now been re-imagined by the strategy experts at Firaxis Games. XCOM: Enemy Unknown will expand on that legacy with an entirely new invasion story, enemies and technologies to fight aliens and defend Earth. You will control the fate of the human race through researching alien technologies, creating and managing a fully operational base, planning combat missions and controlling soldier movement in battle.
Platforms	Xbox 360, Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, PlayStation 3, Android, Mac
Released	October 9, 2012
Genre	Role-playing (RPG), Simulator, Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Tactical
Play Modes	Single player, Multiplayer
Content Rating	18
Languages	Czech, English, Spanish (Spain), Japanese, Portuguese (Brazil)
Genre	Firaxis Games
Genre	2K Games, Feral Interactive
Ratings	86/100 (554 reviews)