There's been speculation over whether it would launch on time, but the free-to-play release of Highguard has officially arrived on Xbox today, and the first reviews have just started going live across the web!
For those who aren't aware, this is a PvP raid shooter made by developers behind Titanfall and Apex Legends, and because it's an online-based game, we're seeing a mix of "review", "preview" and "impressions" from various outlets — nobody seems to know exactly how to categorise their thoughts at the moment!
We've rounded up a bunch of these below, so let's see what the critics are saying about Highguard so far:
CNET (Positive)
"I was hurtling across a fantasy landscape on horseback with my two companions, racing toward the enemy base with the opposing team hot on our heels, a magic sword on my back that would win us the match, and all I could think was, Hell yes, this rules. I spent the entire day gleefully queuing back into more sessions to recapture that moment."
Escapist Magazine (Positive)
"I’m not saying Highguard is perfect, or that you’ll enjoy every game. But I do think it will be an enjoyable competitive experience that allows you to jump in over and over again with little downtime, making it one of the best shooters out there for those who want something fast, hard-hitting, innovative, and straightforward."
GameSpot (Positive)
"I have a few qualms about its balance (which I will get into in a bit), but there is something exciting and fresh about the overall experience. I am not sure if Highguard will thrive in the already crowded live-service shooter market that is dominated by juggernauts with loyal fanbases, but I get the feeling that the concept of Wildlight's shooter will at least persist and inspire more like it. I think other studios are going to emulate the best parts of Highguard over the next decade."
Kotaku (Positive)
"Highguard has spent the last several weeks being the butt of the internet’s jokes, and it leaves me wondering if players will give it the chance it probably deserves. It’s easy for a developer to claim that they’ve developed something truly new for a genre, and at the same time it’s equally rare for a studio to deliver on that promise. Highguard well and truly feels like something special, and like Titanfall before it I could see it garnering a rabid fanbase. I just hope it’s afforded that chance."
Metro ("Promising")
"We played Highguard in the best setting possible, in a room alongside fellow press squad-mates with everyone yelling in earshot. We think it will be enjoyable beyond these parameters, though, and will surprise those expecting another run-of-the-mill shooter, but the lingering thought following our session was whether there’s enough hooks to sustain daily, or even weekly, play sessions once the novelty has worn off. We’ll know the answer in the coming weeks, but for now, this shooter’s unique assembly of familiar components strikes a promising first impression."
ScreenRant (Positive)
"After playing about six hours of Highguard, I can safely say this is one of the freshest and most fun shooters from one of the most passionate teams I’ve ever met. These are some of the people who have made not just one, but several of the best shooters of the last 15 years. They know what they’re doing, and they want to shake things up, and they have."
As you can see, it's been an overwhelmingly positive reception for Highguard from the critics so far, with the vast majority of early reviews having plenty of great things to say about it.
The only question now is whether it'll resonate with the players — and as mentioned, you can try the game for free today on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S! Simply go to the Microsoft Store app and search for "Highguard" to find it.