Highguard CEO Reflects on Game Awards Reveal: ‘We Could Have Done Better’

When Highguard made its debut as the final highlight at The Game Awards in December, the reaction from the online community was overwhelmingly lukewarm. Following this reveal, Wildlight Entertainment went silent for nearly two months as preparations for its late January launch progressed. The abrupt halt in promotional efforts led many observers, particularly on X, to speculate whether Highguard would meet the same fate as Concord, with concerns about potential delays or even cancellation.

During a recent hands-on event in Los Angeles, several developers from Highguard expressed their disappointment regarding the initial reception, although they clarified that the mixed feedback would not impact their release timeline. Dusty Welch, the CEO and founder of Wildlight Entertainment, shared candid thoughts with PC Gamer, stating, “I truly wish Highguard had garnered a more positive response. We recognize that part of this falls on our shoulders. As gamers ourselves, we are very much aware of the feedback circulating online.”

Welch emphasized that the reveal trailer could have been improved. He noted, “In hindsight, we might have crafted a different trailer—one that focused more on showcasing the game’s unique mechanics rather than simply entertaining the audience, which is what we thought The Game Awards aimed to achieve. We take responsibility for that, but our team remains strong and resilient.”

Addressing speculations about the studio’s involvement at The Game Awards, Welch clarified that, contrary to popular belief, Wildlight did not pay a substantial amount for their segment. He explained that host Geoff Keighley, who is a friend of the studio, genuinely believed in the project and wanted to feature it in the event. “Geoff played the game multiple times and loved it. He wanted to spotlight an indie studio and a free-to-play game, and as an unknown indie developer, who wouldn’t seize such an opportunity? This is the premier platform in gaming,” Welch added.

Regarding the lack of communication following the trailer, Jason McCord, the design and creative director, revealed that the decision to step back was part of their strategy leading to the launch. He compared it to the approach taken by the ex-Respawn team with Apex Legends in 2019. “The trailer we presented at The Game Awards was intended as an announcement. Our strategy was to reveal the game, go dark, and then let players experience the game firsthand, which remains our plan regardless of the trailer’s reception,” McCord explained.

After spending several hours playing Highguard, I can attest that the initial trailer failed to convey the essence of the game. While it is categorized as a hero shooter, it possesses a unique structure: a multi-phase, 3v3 tug-of-war where teams engage in battles to seize control of each other’s bases and destroy generators. It blends elements of Rainbow Six Siege’s tactical gameplay, battle royale looting, and intense team confrontations reminiscent of Apex Legends.

This core gameplay experience was not effectively communicated during The Game Awards, prompting Wildlight to produce a series of developer diaries and explanatory videos that are launching with the game itself—currently available, if my watch is accurate.