Highguard’s post-launch efforts failed to move the dial, but redemption is never instantaneous

Highguard‘s been out for some two weeks, hitting almost 100,000 concurrent players on release day. However, it’s only dwindled since, now only at three percent of its original player count, despite the studio’s best efforts and major post-launch support, throwing shade on its potential for redemption.

Even though it has quickly and almost instantly fixed, patched, updated, and refined aspects of Highguard, Wildlight Entertainment hasn’t seen much success with players after launch. A new, permanent 5v5 mode, a proper narrative and lore, and other additions to Highguard have only ever so slightly delayed what seems to be inevitable.

People keep leaving, the numbers continue to fall, and Highguard‘s survival seems dependent only on the whims of internal executives who may or may not flip the switch at any point.

But redemption is a long and arduous journey.

Back in 2016, No Man’s Sky overpromised and underdelivered, releasing a game that was a far cry from what had been marketed by an inexperienced studio chief who let ideas and concepts turn too real to not mention in live interviews. What followed was absolute mayhem and dead silence. While everyone was hammering away at No Man’s Sky and its creators, the studio kept quiet and worked in the shadows before releasing the first major expansion for the game.

More than a dozen game-changing updates later, and No Man’s Sky is one of the most beloved games ever made, with most completely oblivious to its horrible launch and post-release fiascos.

Highguard‘s developers have more than shown a desire to improve this game. As I’ve said, they’ve been following social media vigorously and introducing patches left and right, almost daily. A lot is being done, and a lot of effort and resources are being poured into Highguard to turn it into something worth your while. It doesn’t seem to be working—but redemption doesn’t happen overnight.

A lot of bad rep has been attached to this game unfairly, despite the fact that it isn’t the best possible experience out there. Unwarranted exposure, a final slot on the biggest gaming show of 2025, and unfortunate circumstances caused the downfall of what could’ve been a small, focused experience for those who like it.

That is going to be hard to wash off, but something tells me the developers could pull it off.

If No Man’s Sky, which fell from 212,000 to 1,000 (ludicrous numbers, I know) and bounced back to 100,000 two full years later, did it, then perhaps Highguard can, too.

It’s been a while since we’ve had a situation like this, so predicting what’ll happen is not so easy an endeavor, but I feel like people love seeing a good redemption arc. Sure, the world around Highguard won’t suddenly freeze over to wait for it to recover (Overwatch might have just killed it for good with its new patch, coming tomorrow), but hope remains.

Redemption arcs are called arcs for a reason. We’re just at the start, and there’s a good chunk of ground to cover by the time we’re on the other side of the rainbow, so long as the devs don’t give up midway through (and do a good enough job in the process).

Do you think this is possible, or is it just me yapping to myself? Do let me know below.

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ARC Raiders could be answering the calls for one of the most-requested additions to the game since launch, and even before it, in a new limited time mode this week.

Embark Studios announced the new event today, called Shared Watch, although details are scant so far. The video the company used to tease it, though, sure sounds like players will be teaming up together, and not against each other, in the fight against ARC.

“You watch my back, I’ll watch yours – that’s how Speranza keeps ticking,” the company said. “Join your fellow Raiders in celebrating the Shared Watch; team up with strangers, turn your barrels on the machines, and earn rewards in the process.”

And that’s all there is to go on, for now, other than some potential new baseball helmet-themed gear teased in the key art. If it truly is a PvE-only experience, then many players will be thrilled to try it out. ARC Raiders players have been asking for something like this for a while, and if it’s here, it should be a big hit.

The game’s usage of an “aggression-based matchmaking” system means a PvE experience is entirely possible to foster, but this being a true co-op experience where players can team up with others to fight against the AI ARC enemies may be a fun addition to the game’s existing style.

Shared Watch is scheduled to run from Feb. 10 to 24, so it’s for a limited time for now. But, anything can change, and if the mode proves as popular as it has the potential to, then Embark may have no choice but to consider a more permanent solution.

For now, though, players can queue up when the event goes live and see what it has to offer in the early morning hours tomorrow.

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