At The Game Awards 2025, one of the most talked-about moments wasn’t who won Game of the Year or which blockbuster sequel lit up the stage. Instead, it was the surprise reveal of Highguard, a free-to-play PvP raid shooter from Wildlight Entertainment that closed out the show in the coveted finale slot. What made this choice even more intriguing was that Highguard didn’t pay for that prominent position. According to Forbes journalist Paul Tassi, it was Geoff Keighley himself who chose to elevate the title to the finale because he loved it.
How Highguard Became the Unexpected Finale Reveal
The Game Awards typically build to a dramatic final announcement, often spotlighting highly anticipated sequels or first looks at major new franchises. In December 2025, however, the show closed with Highguard during Geoff Keighley’s presentation, drawing immediate attention from gamers around the world. Reports indicate that Highguard was not secured in that spot in the traditional manner most trailers are secured. Instead, Keighley personally placed the game at the end of the show because he believed in its potential and wanted to showcase it to the massive live and online audience.
This move surprised many fans and commentators who expected a more established franchise to claim the final moment. The reveal sparked intense discussion online, with some players questioning whether a relatively unknown shooter deserved that level of spotlight. Others pointed out that the passionate endorsement from Keighley, a respected figure in gaming media, was a rare vote of confidence for a new intellectual property.
Wildlight Entertainment’s New Shooter Enters the Spotlight
Highguard is being developed by Wildlight Entertainment, a studio founded by industry veterans who previously worked on major titles such as Apex Legends and Titanfall. The game blends fast-paced first-person shooter mechanics with raid-style objectives and fantasy themes, putting players in the roles of arcane gunslingers known as Wardens. It combines objective-driven PvP combat with strategic base assaults and unique abilities, aiming to carve out a niche in the crowded shooter genre.
The game is set to launch on January 26, 2026, on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, and promises cross-play and cross-progression at launch. While Highguard was revealed just weeks before release, its sudden prominence at The Game Awards finale thrust it into the spotlight overnight
Butal Community Reaction
Reactions from the gaming community have been mixed since the reveal. Some players expressed shock that Highguard closed the ceremony instead of a long-awaited sequel or established franchise announcement. Others sympathized with the Wildlight team, noting that the free spotlight also came with heightened scrutiny and debate over whether the game’s first trailer lived up to expectations. Many memes and discussions circulated on social platforms comparing Highguard to other titles and questioning its readiness for such a major reveal.
Despite the mixed reaction, the attention generated by Keighley’s decision has put Highguard firmly on the radar of FPS fans everywhere. Whether the game’s launch will validate his confidence remains to be seen, but the choice to handpick it for the finale has already made Highguard one of the most talked-about games entering 2026.
In an awards show filled with big winners and memorable moments, the bold finale choice has become its own kind of highlight, proving that sometimes the biggest story isn’t who wins the trophy, but which game gets the stage.
