Highguard is launching today after a quiet period following its announcement at The Game Awards. The game’s developer, Wildlight, has faced challenges recently, with many people questioning if the game was even real. Beyond the first trailer, there’s been very little marketing done for it.
A private event was recently held in Los Angeles, giving creators and industry insiders a chance to try out the new game. Some people have criticized the positive reactions, suggesting that attendees are biased because the event was fully paid for and they may have received compensation.
It seems that wasn’t the case, at least for some.
Were Creators Paid to Play Highguard?
TheMacroShow shared on social media that they didn’t receive any payment for going to the Highguard event in Los Angeles, and while this might not be true for all creators, it was their experience.
Macro also mentioned being offered payment to create a video about the game, but he declined because he wanted to give his audience his honest thoughts.
Attendees said Wildlight didn’t cover travel or lodging for the event, not even a ride like an Uber. The only thing they received as a perk was a sandwich at lunchtime.
Macro wrapped up his statement by stressing that he ‘genuinely had fun playing this game.’
full review coming monday
— Macro (@TheMacroShow) January 25, 2026
His comment got buried under a huge wave of messages from creators enthusiastically supporting Highguard and praising it as an amazing game. This mirrors the efforts of Geoff Keighley, who has consistently promoted Highguard ever since showcasing its first trailer at The Game Awards.
Wildlight is using a somewhat risky marketing strategy for Highguard. It involves focusing heavily on events and promotions run by content creators – a tactic that many gamers are starting to dislike. This approach, which doesn’t rely on traditional advertising, is becoming increasingly unpopular.
In one comment, user ‘KingdumbHD’ wrote:
It feels really strange and disingenuous how many online influencers and game journalists are suddenly promoting Highguard. It’s obvious they’ve been paid to do so, which makes it hard to trust anything they say.
In another, a response to a creator hyping the game, Vurkkz wrote:
It’s pretty clear this person is being paid to advertise the game. There are also a few influencers pretending to be really enthusiastic about ‘Highguard,’ which is frustrating. It feels like modern multiplayer games rely entirely on paid promotion and have lost any genuine, natural growth.
Highguard is launching on PC later today. Players on Xbox and PlayStation can expect it to arrive later this year, depending on how well the initial release performs.
Grant Taylor-Hill
Grant first fell in love with video games in 1996 on the Amstrad CPC. Today, he’s a skilled gamer across many platforms, with a strong passion for both gaming and competitive esports.
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2026-01-26 10:18