The gaming world just got a massive surprise at The Game Awards 2025, where newcomer Wildlight Entertainment dropped their debut title Highguard as the grand finale announcement. In a sea of established franchises and familiar IPs, this brand-new hero shooter came out of left field, proving that sometimes the biggest surprises come from fresh faces in the industry. With a January 26 release date looming just over a month away, Highguard is positioned to make waves in the competitive hero shooter market.
Developer Pedigree: Respawn Veterans Take the Reins
What makes Highguard particularly intriguing is its development team's impressive resume. Wildlight Entertainment isn't your typical startup studio—it's composed of 61 veteran developers who previously worked on iconic titles like Apex Legends and Titanfall at Respawn Entertainment. This isn't just some random team throwing their hat in the ring; these are developers who literally wrote the book on successful FPS games. As Geoff Keighley emphasized during the reveal, this team knows what makes shooters tick.
Key Development Team Credentials:
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Respawn Entertainment alumni with FPS expertise
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Proven track record with AAA shooter titles
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Deep understanding of competitive gameplay mechanics
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Experience with live service game models
⚔️ Gameplay Mechanics: The "Raid Shooter" Revolution
Highguard is being marketed as a "raid shooter"—a fresh take on the hero shooter genre that blends familiar elements with innovative gameplay twists. The core gameplay loop involves players leaving their homebase on horseback (giving off serious Paladins vibes), battling for control of a powerful artifact called the Shieldbreaker, and using it to summon a giant battering ram to breach enemy defenses.
Unique Gameplay Features:
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Mounted combat with strategic positioning
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Objective-based gameplay centered around the Shieldbreaker
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Base invasion mechanics with siege equipment
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Dynamic map control systems
🧙♂️ Character Roster: A Fantasy FPS Cast
The debut trailer showcased an incredibly diverse cast of characters that would make any Overwatch fan do a double-take. From an ice troll-like brute who can slam the ground to create shockwaves, to an electric spear-throwing character reminiscent of Marvel Rivals' Hela, the roster screams variety. One character even has a bird companion for scouting, while another can summon lava flows to control the battlefield.
Character Ability Highlights:
| Character Type | Primary Ability | Secondary Ability | Ultimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ice Troll | Ground Slam | Frost AoE | Ice Barrier |
| Electric Spear | Sky Strike | Chain Lightning | Storm Call |
| Beast Master | Bird Companion | Animal Summon | Pack Attack |
| Lava Mage | Molten Pool | Fire Wall | Volcano Summon |
Free-to-Play Advantage: Learning from Industry Mistakes
Perhaps the smartest move Wildlight made was making Highguard completely free-to-play across PC, PS5, and Xbox. This decision positions the game perfectly against Sony's recent stumble with Concord, giving players zero barrier to entry. In today's crowded market, asking players to pay upfront for a new IP is a tough sell, and Wildlight seems to have learned this lesson well.
Free-to-Play Benefits:
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✅ Zero financial risk for new players
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✅ Massive potential player base from day one
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✅ Easier to attract curious gamers
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✅ Better longevity through microtransactions
📊 Community Reception: Mixed But Hopeful
The initial trailer reaction has been... interesting, to say the least. With over 500 dislikes compared to 150 likes at launch, the gaming community seems skeptical. Many comments directly compared Highguard to Concord's disastrous reception, which is both unfair and understandable given the superficial similarities. However, comparing every hero shooter to failed projects is like comparing every restaurant to one that got a bad health inspection—it's not exactly apples to apples.
Why Initial Skepticism Might Be Premature:
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🔄 Respawn veterans know how to build successful games
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💰 Free-to-play model removes financial risk for players
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Genre familiarity with fresh twists
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📅 Quick turnaround means less hype fatigue
Launch Strategy: Strike While the Iron's Hot
Wildlight's decision to release Highguard just over a month after its announcement is either brilliant or crazy—time will tell. This "surprise and delight" approach could work in their favor by:
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Avoiding prolonged hype cycles that often lead to disappointment
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Capitalizing on immediate curiosity from The Game Awards audience
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Getting ahead of competitor release schedules
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Allowing for rapid iteration based on player feedback
The Verdict: High Potential with Questions Remaining
Highguard faces an uphill battle in winning over a skeptical audience, but it's got several aces up its sleeve. The Respawn pedigree alone gives it more credibility than most new IPs, and the free-to-play model is practically cheating in today's market. While it certainly shares DNA with Overwatch, Marvel Rivals, and yes, even Concord, that doesn't automatically spell doom.
What Could Make or Break Highguard:
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🎮 Gameplay depth beyond the initial novelty
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📈 Content pipeline and update frequency
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🤝 Community management and developer transparency
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⚖️ Balancing diverse hero abilities
The gaming community can be tough as nails when it comes to new entries in crowded genres, but sometimes the underdog surprises everyone. With Highguard's January 26 release date fast approaching, we won't have to wait long to see if this raid shooter can break through the shields of skepticism and establish itself as a new force in the hero shooter arena. Fingers crossed, because the gaming world could always use another great free-to-play option that doesn't feel like a cash grab.