New Free-to-Play Online Shooter Highguard Launches on Steam with a Whopping 97,000-Player Peak, Yet Plagued by Scathing Reviews

The latest addition to the world of online shooters, Highguard, has officially launched on Steam as of January 26, 2026, and it has already made a significant impact, peaking at an impressive 97,249 players. Despite its free-to-play status and the high volume of players, the game is struggling to gain positive traction due to severe optimization issues.

The optimization problems are a major concern for players, leading to a plethora of negative reviews, with over 16,000 reviews, mostly scathing, being posted. The game’s 3v3 loop is also being criticized for being boringly slow, which is further exacerbating the situation.

Highguard’s launch has been highly anticipated, but the severe optimization issues and the slow gameplay are dampening the enthusiasm of players. The game’s developers will need to address these concerns promptly to salvage the game’s reputation and retain player interest.

The free-to-play model is often a double-edged sword, as it can attract a large player base but also leads to increased scrutiny and criticism. Highguard’s situation is a prime example of this, as the game’s popularity is being overshadowed by its technical issues and poor gameplay experience.

As the gaming community continues to analyse the game’s performance and provide feedback, it remains to be seen how Highguard’s developers will respond to the criticism and whether they can turn the game’s fortunes around. The colour of the game’s future is uncertain, but one thing is clear – the developers must take immediate action to address the optimization issues and improve the gameplay experience.

The behaviour of the game’s player base will be crucial in determining the game’s success, and it is essential for the developers to engage with the community and take their feedback on board. By doing so, they can identify the root causes of the problems and implement fixes to improve the overall gaming experience.

Only time will tell if Highguard can recover from its rocky launch and become a successful online shooter. For now, the game’s future hangs in the balance, and it is up to the developers to take the necessary steps to salvage the situation and provide a better experience for players.