HighGuard, the multiplayer shooter from 61 ex-Respawn devs, has vanished. Announced as The Game Awards 2025 final reveal with a January 26, 2026 launch, Wildlight Entertainment’s fantasy PvP title promised to push the genre forward. Now Paul Tassi reports it didn’t even pay for that prime slot, and total radio silence has everyone convinced it’s either delayed or cancelled.
Radio Silence Since Game Awards
HighGuard dropped its trailer December 12, 2025 to close Geoff Keighley’s show. The free-to-play FPS featured horse-mounted combat, magic-infused gunplay, and giant cat-tank summons. Cross-play PC/PS5/Xbox was promised day one. Then… nothing. No Steam page. No Steam Deck verification. No social media. No developer updates. The official Twitter sits at 5,800 followers with zero posts since reveal. YouTube channel has 1,300 subs and one trailer.
Forbes’ Paul Tassi broke the story January 6, 2026, noting the bizarre silence just weeks from launch. Trailers average 1:10 dislike ratio with comments calling it ‘generic slop’ and ‘Overwatch with horses.’ Tassi revealed HighGuard secured its Game Awards slot for free – unprecedented for the show’s final reveal typically reserved for massive paid placements.
What Paul Tassi Learned
The Reddit post quotes Tassi directly: “I have learned that HighGuard did not have to pay for its Game Awards slot.” This explains Geoff Keighley’s personal endorsement despite lukewarm reception. Theories swirl about last-minute cancellations forcing the slot open, or Keighley personally championing the ex-Respawn team after their Apex/Titanfall pedigree.
Wildlight Entertainment comprises 61 developers from Respawn, including key Apex Legends staff. The studio formed post-EA layoffs, positioning HighGuard as their big swing. Trailer showed area capture objectives, payload-style missions, and king-of-the-hill modes – familiar territory dressed in fantasy armor.
Why It’s Setting Up for Disaster
January 26 launch now looks impossible. No storefront listings. No beta tests. No system requirements. No influencer previews. Compare to Concord’s spectacular flop – $200 million wasted on hero shooter nobody wanted. HighGuard faces identical market saturation with Palworld, Delta Force, and battle royale fatigue.
- Hero shooter market dead post-Overwatch 2
- Fantasy PvP oversaturated (New World, Throne & Liberty)
- No unique hook beyond ‘horses with guns’
- Generic character designs, abilities
- Launch window competes with Esports World Cup
Three Possible Outcomes
| Scenario | Timeline | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Cancellation | Immediate | Studio credibility destroyed |
| Delay | Q2 2026+ | Misses hype window, forgotten |
| Stealth Launch | Jan 26 | Concord 2.0, 100 players peak |
Cancellation kills Wildlight’s momentum. 61 Respawn veterans suddenly need new jobs. Delay buries it under spring blockbusters. Stealth launch becomes punchline alongside Concord’s 700 peak players.
Game Awards Backfire
HighGuard’s big reveal now haunts Geoff Keighley. Past finales featured Elden Ring, Alan Wake 2, Spider-Man 2. This year closed with ‘horses with magic guns’ that YouTube ratio’d into oblivion. Tassi questions Keighley’s curation after free slot revelation – did personal friendship override quality control?
Community theories point to last-minute pullouts forcing the slot open. Developers don’t confirm Tassi’s reporting but silence speaks volumes. Compare to Phantom Blade Zero’s sustained hype versus HighGuard’s disappearance.
Industry Implications
Ex-Respawn exodus reveals AAA shooter crisis. Titanfall 3 cancelled. Apex playerbase declining. Battlefield imploding. Live service fatigue hits hardest where Respawn excelled. HighGuard needed revolutionary gameplay, not cosmetic fantasy reskin.
Wildlight faces existential threat. 61 specialists can’t pivot easily. Publishers wary after Concord’s catastrophe. Free Game Awards slot becomes curse – massive exposure without readiness. January 26 either vindicates the risk or buries the studio.
FAQs
Is HighGuard actually cancelled?
Not officially, but Paul Tassi’s reporting and total silence make delay/cancellation likely. No storefronts, no marketing 10 days from planned launch screams trouble.
Why no marketing before launch?
Trailer backlash (1:10 dislike ratio) likely spooked developers. Genre fatigue + generic design killed hype. Respawn pedigree couldn’t overcome market saturation.
Did HighGuard really get Game Awards for free?
Paul Tassi confirms via sources. Unprecedented for final reveal slot. Explains Keighley’s personal endorsement despite poor reception.
What’s the gameplay like?
Fantasy PvP shooter. Horse-mounted combat, magic guns, area capture objectives. Trailer showed payload/KOTH modes. No unique hook beyond cosmetic changes.
Who made HighGuard?
Wildlight Entertainment – 61 ex-Respawn devs from Apex Legends/Titanfall. Post-EA layoffs studio. Self-funding appears likely given silence.
Why January 26 specifically?
Post-holiday quiet window. Cross-play launch across PC/PS5/Xbox. Now looks like placeholder date after Game Awards pressure.
Will it become the next Concord?
Trajectory identical. Hype reveal, silence, hero shooter fatigue. $200M lessons unlearned. Peak players likely under 1,000 if launches.
Game Awards slot controversy?
Finale traditionally massive paid placement (Elden Ring, Spider-Man 2). Free HighGuard slot questions Keighley’s curation standards.
Conclusion
HighGuard’s disappearance embodies live service gaming’s death spiral. Respawn veterans couldn’t escape hero shooter curse despite Game Awards platform. Paul Tassi’s free-slot revelation explains the gamble – massive exposure without readiness. January 26 either delivers miracle turnaround or cements another Concord failure. Wildlight’s survival hangs on decision made in silence. Gaming’s most awkward launch window approaches.