Okay, look, it's no secret that The Game Awards' reveal of free-to-play shooter Highguard didn't exactly go down well, is it? The upcoming FPS — which is out on Xbox next month — fell victim to strange TGA scheduling; where it was the final reveal in the hopes of being the 2025 show's big surprise. And, while a free-to-play shooter was just never going to go over that well with The Game Awards crowd, I still think there's massive potential with this upcoming Xbox FPS.
First off, if you look behind the somewhat derivative art style in the trailer up above, Highguard's gameplay looks really slick. As soon as I saw some first-person shooting here, I thought 'yep, that looks like Titanfall gunplay', which makes sense given the Respawn Entertainment pedigree behind this one. Lots of us have been clamouring for another Titanfall for years, and with Respawn seemingly sticking with Apex Legends for now, I'll certainly give Highguard a good go to fill those non-existent Titanfall 3 boots. I just need another shooter that looks and plays that well, folks.
I also quite like the twist on Respawn's old themes and traversal mechanics, where Highguard is seemingly swapping out mechs and wall-running for mythical creatures and beast-riding. Again, I don't necessarily think the uninspiring art style is doing it any favours, but in theory, I have no issue with a game blending the feel of Titanfall with something that looks more fantasy-like overall. In fact, that's right up my alley.
Another thing I really dug about last night's reveal is that I can actually play this game in a matter of weeks. Shadow drops can sometimes be a little overwhelming because you feel like you have to drop everything right away, whilst here in 2025, announcements for big games that are three or four years away just don't do it for me anymore. Developer Wildlight has struck the perfect balance, and that's making me more excited to try out this Xbox FPS come January 26th when it launches.
Sure, I'd have liked a little more detail on the game's core aims given its nearby release, and sure, I'd have taken more hints at solo / PvE elements, but nonetheless, I remain excited for any shooter that comes from the same school of thought as Titanfall and Apex Legends. Time will tell whether Highguard is any good and has the chops to remain relevant in the long run, but that doesn't mean its TGA reveal should be pushed aside just because it was maybe revealed in the wrong way and at the wrong time. With this pedigree behind it, Highguard is probably worth giving the benefit of doubt, right?