Highguard will shut down soon, but it just rolled out its most significant update yet. This update introduces a new character, Koldo, a tank hero; a new weapon, the Switchback marksman rifle; and a skill tree for character development. Creative director Jason McCord shared that the update was completed by a small team at Wildlight Entertainment. Despite the game’s looming closure, they wanted to ensure players received this final content.
McCord expressed gratitude for the team’s dedication, saying, “They asked if they could finish it up and get it out there.” The update includes an XP system that allows players to level up and customize their heroes. There are four subclasses: Raider, Harvester, Treasure Hunter, and Protector. Players can mix and match perks to create unique strategies.
The need for this update arose because some features weren’t ready at the launch. “None of this was done at launch,” McCord noted. The team had to scramble to complete the enhancements, which had been planned for future seasons. Unfortunately, the update arrives just days before the servers go offline permanently.
When Highguard launched, it initially attracted nearly 100,000 players in its first 24 hours. However, a wave of negative reviews chased many away. Just weeks later, most of the staff was let go due to funding issues from Tencent. Only around 20 developers continued, hoping to introduce new modes to keep the game alive. Ultimately, the game lasted just a month longer than another recent failure, Concord.
The backlash against live-service games and so-called “toxic positivity” surrounding Highguard contributed to the game’s struggles. Despite the criticisms, McCord emphasized that the team was always honest and critical of their work. “We just made a few mistakes,” he said, acknowledging that the game didn’t resonate in the way past titles did.
As a point of comparison, another game, Battleborn, faced a similar fate in 2017, highlighting ongoing challenges in the gaming industry for new titles. In a recent survey, over 70% of gamers expressed concern about how quickly games are abandoned, showing a trend of frustration over short-lived projects. The conversation around Highguard reflects broader issues in game development today, where community feedback every step of the way might dictate success or failure.
While Highguard is closing its doors, it leaves behind lessons about player engagement and the delicate balance between creativity and financial viability in the gaming world.
