Highguard is set to launch in roughly one week, but players heading to its Steam page or searching for gameplay footage will find surprisingly little information besides the game’s trailer about what the game actually is.
The free-to-play shooter received a major reveal at The Game Awards in December, appearing in the show’s final “one more thing” slot. Geoff Keighley introduced the game with language connecting the development team to Apex Legends and Titanfall, positioning it as a new take on shooters.
Since that reveal, marketing and communication from the developers have been sparse. The initial trailer was cinematic-focused and light on gameplay details. No follow-up gameplay trailers, beta tests, or developer deep dives have surfaced publicly in the weeks since.
The game’s Steam page remains minimal, offering limited details about modes or mechanics. Some promotional material has referenced the term “raid shooter” but without clear explanation of what that means in practice. Players looking for concrete information about how Highguard plays are left guessing.
The Game Awards final reveal slot typically carries high expectations. It’s premium real estate on one of gaming’s biggest stages, watched by millions. But that visibility usually comes with a marketing plan to maintain momentum afterward.
Free-to-play games often take different approaches to launch marketing compared to premium titles. They don’t rely on preorders and can prioritize launch-day visibility and word-of-mouth over extended campaigns. Apex Legends famously launched with minimal advance warning in 2019, going from announcement to playable in a single day with heavy streamer support driving adoption.
The week one mystery
Highguard’s situation is different. The game was revealed weeks ago but won’t be playable until launch. That gap without substantial gameplay reveals or hands-on previews has left potential players in the dark about basic questions heading into release week.
The studio behind Highguard has credentials that should generate interest. Team members worked on major titles like Apex Legends and Titanfall. But credentials only carry so far when players can’t see what you’re building.
