2 min read
Wildlight Entertainment is moving fast. Just one week after its January 26 launch, the hero shooter Highguard is struggling. The developer has released an experimental 5v5 playlist to combat a sharp decline in players. This update aims to shake up the gameplay and address early criticism regarding the game’s map sizes.
Highguard Player Count Collapses After Launch
Highguard utilised an unconventional release strategy. The studio adopted an Apex Legends-style “shadow-drop”, keeping marketing silent until its reveal at The Game Awards 2025. This initially worked. The game debuted with just under 100,000 concurrent players on Steam.
However, the momentum did not last. The player count has regularly fallen below 10,000 active users. As of this writing, the 24-hour peak sits at only 12,827. This is a massive drop from its all-time peak of 97,249, set just days ago. Furthermore, Steam reviews currently hold a “Mixed” rating, with only 43% of reviews marking the experience as positive.
Testing the Waters with 5v5
In response, Wildlight has introduced a brand-new 5v5 Raid Mode playlist. Previously, Highguard was exclusively a 3v3 shooter. Critics noted that the maps felt too large for smaller teams, so this shift makes sense.
The new mode includes specific balance changes:
- Larger Parties: Players can now form full parties of five.
- Increased Lives: Raids now feature 10 lives instead of six.
- Longer Respawns: Timers are slightly extended to allow for generator planting and defusing.
Currently, this mode is strictly experimental. The patch notes indicate it is available only “for the weekend”. However, the standard 3v3 Raids remain available for those who prefer the original format.
Future Plans & Roadmap
First impressions are critical in the live-service market. If this 5v5 experiment succeeds, it could become a permanent fixture. Despite the rocky start, Wildlight Entertainment is not giving up. They have unveiled an ambitious Highguard roadmap for 2026. It promises “tons of free content” delivered in various episodes throughout the year.
The studio hopes this quick pivot will stabilise the player base. We will see if the new roadmap can deliver on its ambitious promise.
