Former FPS pro Shroud says Highguard's "vision is there," but tech problems are holding the fantasy shooter back: "Gameplay is really good, it's just poor performance"

1. Games
2. FPS Games
3. Highguard

Former FPS pro Shroud says Highguard's "vision is there," but tech problems are holding the fantasy shooter back: "Gameplay is really good, it's just poor performance" News By Anthony McGlynn published 28 January 2026

He's not the only one who isn't super impressed

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Wildlight Entertainment) Share Share by:

• Copy link
• Facebook
• X
• Whatsapp
• Pinterest
• Flipboard
• Email

Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google

The fantasy FPS Highguard is here, and after closing out The Game Awards last year then going a little quiet on the marketing front, it debuted to 97,000 players on Steam. Among the people checking it out is former Counter-Strike: Global Offensive pro-turned-streamer Michael "Shroud" Grzesiek, who finds it somewhat middling thus far.

"The vision is there, the FPS is not," he said during a stream where he played the shooter from developer Wildlight Entertainment, as spotted by Jake Lucky on Twitter. "The game's gameplay is really good, it's just poor performance. That's the only thing that I would say is a little rough."

I don't think he's wrong. Highguard's world is gorgeous and eye-catching amid its more sci-fi-centered contemporaries. But, unfortunately, Shroud's tepid take matches the general reception toward Highguard thus far. The game's Steam reviews sit at a "Mostly Negative" rating on Steam, and its player-count has dropped significantly since going live – peaking at just over 19,000 concurrent players the day after launch, per SteamDB.

You may like

• Hours after launch, Highguard has "Mostly Negative" reviews and a peak of 97,000 players on Steam
• New FPS Highguard has a full year of updates "deep in development," split up to counteract "live-service fatigue"
• "I wish Highguard had been received better," CEO admits, after cancelling a planned Apex Legends-style shadow drop

"The vision is there, the FPS is not, the game's gameplay is really good, it's just poor performances... is a little rough"Shroud gives his take on Highguard pic.twitter.com/7DzNUIKyipJanuary 27, 2026

There are often issues when anything live-service first launches. Should you attract a large amount of people at once, a game's servers and overall optimization will be stretched to accommodate everyone smoothly. These problems can be and, likely, are going to be ironed out in the coming weeks and months, as the devs find and address niggling problems in patches.

Wildlight's got big plans too, outlining a strategy for Highguard based on counteracting the manufactured FOMO prevalent among other live-service games. The year coming promises new episodes of additional features every two months, each split into two-parts.

The team states they're "building a game that people want to come back to." Hopefully we'll get a chance to see that come to pass.

As Highguard continues to get trashed online, Baldur's Gate 3 boss Swen Vincke says "I don't like people s***ing on things" as "it's easy to destroy things, it's a lot harder to build them"

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. CATEGORIES PC Gaming Platforms Anthony McGlynnSocial Links NavigationContributing Writer

Anthony is an Irish entertainment and games journalist, now based in Glasgow. He previously served as Senior Anime Writer at Dexerto and News Editor at The Digital Fix, on top of providing work for Variety, IGN, Den of Geek, PC Gamer, and many more. Besides Studio Ghibli, horror movies, and The Muppets, he enjoys action-RPGs, heavy metal, and pro-wrestling. He interviewed Animal once, not that he won’t stop going on about it or anything.

Show More Comments

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

Logout Read more Hours after launch, Highguard has "Mostly Negative" reviews and a peak of 97,000 players on Steam    New FPS Highguard has a full year of updates "deep in development," split up to counteract "live-service fatigue"    "I wish Highguard had been received better," CEO admits, after cancelling a planned Apex Legends-style shadow drop    Highguard will hold a launch showcase next week after 43 days of silence following odd Game Awards reveal    Highguard: Everything you need to know about the new F2P shooter    New FPS from Titanfall devs shows signs of life after weeks of radio silence, and just days before its release date    Latest in FPS Games All Highguard Wardens and the best ones to pick for victory    New FPS Highguard has a full year of updates "deep in development," split up to counteract "live-service fatigue"    Hours after launch, Highguard has "Mostly Negative" reviews and a peak of 97,000 players on Steam    "I wish Highguard had been received better," CEO admits, after cancelling a planned Apex Legends-style shadow drop    What time does Highguard release on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X?    Master Chief actor didn't like Halo 5's misleading ads because they made it harder to "stay true to the character"    Latest in News Former FPS pro Shroud says Highguard's "vision is there," but tech problems are holding the fantasy shooter back    Terraria 1.4.5 sees the game soar with over 160,000 players exploring a new Minecraft-inspired world seed and more    Jason Sudeikis is back on the pitch in first look at Ted Lasso season 4, which hits Apple TV this summer    Reboot of '70s cult horror gives Final Destination a run for its money, as its first trailer reels off gory ways to die    Monster Hunter Wilds players were right; buying $500 of DLC made the game run better, so Capcom has fixed it    OG Diablo devs annoucing their new Action RPG this week, with a Steam demo coming in February    GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS

1. 1This award-winning board game is a five star must-have
2. 2Code Vein 2 review: "This vampire take on Elden Ring almost works, but the dungeons themselves lack bite"
3. 3Looking for a good 2-player board game? This superhero adventure is worth suiting up for
4. 4Trails Beyond the Horizon review: "This JRPG's thrilling real-time and turn-based hybrid combat is finely balanced"
5. 5Scythe review: "This alt-history board game is still a gold standard for modern strategy"

1. 1Return to Silent Hill review: "Neither an impressive adaptation nor coherent enough to act as a standalone film"
2. 228 Years Later: The Bone Temple review: "The wildest and weirdest entry into the franchise yet"
3. 3Avatar: Fire and Ash review: "Still a technical marvel, with some of the year's best action filmmaking"
4. 4Five Nights at Freddy's 2 review: "We have waited two years for a Five Nights at Freddy's 1.5"
5. 5Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery review: "Brings Knives Out back to its roots for a sequel that's almost on a par with the original"

1. 1Wonder Man review: "A low-key gem that's up there with the MCU's best"
2. 2Starfleet Academy review: "It may feel a little different to what we're used to, but this is Star Trek through and through"
3. 3A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms review: "This Game of Thrones spin-off is a surprisingly heartfelt and fun return to Westeros"
4. 4Stranger Things season 5 finale review: “Shows off both the best and the worst of Hawkins”
5. 5Stranger Things season 5, Volume 2 review: “All set up for a finale that has so much to deliver”