Highguard has reached a critical moment just one month after launch. The free-to-play PvP raid shooter has dropped to just 254 concurrent players on Steam, marking its lowest point since release.
The game launched with momentum and briefly peaked at nearly 100,000 concurrent players. Now, the numbers tell a very different story.
Player Count Falls Nearly 100% Since Launch
When Highguard debuted, it drew strong attention on Steam with a launch peak of around 97,000 players . Within days, that number collapsed by roughly 80%. Over the past week, SteamDB data shows the game struggling to hold even 600–700 players during peak hours.
On February 26, the shooter dipped to just 254 concurrent players, its lowest point yet.
While these figures reflect PC performance only, Steam remains the largest PC platform. A decline of this scale raises serious concerns for any live-service title.
From Game Awards Spotlight to Steam Charts Slide
Highguard made headlines with its surprise reveal during The Game Awards. Industry reports suggested the showcase happened because event host Geoff Keighley personally supported the game.
The unexpected premiere generated hype. However, early excitement did not translate into long-term retention.
Wildlight Entertainment initially planned a shadow drop strategy for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Instead, the high-profile reveal may have created expectations the game struggled to meet.
Developers Say Player Count “Doesn’t Matter”
After early declines, Wildlight Entertainment co-founder Chad Grenier stated that total player numbers were not the studio’s main concern .
He emphasized that the team wanted the game to be loved by those who play it, whether that meant a thousand players or millions.
That philosophy reflects confidence. However, live-service games rely heavily on active engagement and revenue from microtransactions. Sustaining servers and ongoing updates requires scale.
Raid Rush Mode and Balance Updates Arrive
Despite declining numbers, Wildlight continues to ship updates. The latest patch, released February 26, introduces:
- A new Raid Rush mode
- 5v5 format improvements
- Weapon balance changes
- Quality-of-life updates
- Bug fixes
Raid Rush removes the traditional looting phase and focuses on round-based base attacks. Two teams of five alternate between offense and defense, streamlining the gameplay loop.
The update also tweaks weapon performance and adjusts items like the Reviver Amulet to improve competitive balance .
These changes address early player feedback. However, the scale of the player drop suggests deeper retention challenges.
Wildlight Entertainment recently confirmed layoffs less than one month after launch.
The studio stated that a core development team remains in place to continue supporting Highguard. Still, staff reductions this early in a game’s lifecycle often signal financial pressure.
For comparison, other recent live-service shooters that struggled at launch shut down within weeks. Highguard remains online and updated — but survival alone does not guarantee recovery.
Can Highguard Recover?
Highguard faces three major challenges:
- Rebuilding trust after a steep player decline
- Attracting new players in a crowded PvP market
- Sustaining revenue with a reduced active base
Console engagement reportedly appears healthier than Steam numbers suggest. However, without a major momentum shift, recovery will require either a breakthrough update or a renewed marketing push.
Live-service games often depend on strong early retention curves. Highguard’s drop from nearly 100,000 players to just 254 on Steam represents one of the sharpest post-launch declines in recent memory. Play Now!
