Highguard Devs Didn’t Pay for The Game Awards Finale Spot - Insider Gaming

The Game Awards 2025 closed with a surprise: the world premiere of Highguard, a fresh first-person shooter from Wildlight Entertainment. Many viewers expected a blockbuster reveal to cap the show and were disappointed when an unproven arena-style shooter took the finale slot. Now, a new report suggests the studio didn’t pay to be there at all.

Key points:

• According to Forbes writer Paul Tassi, Highguard did not pay for The Game Awards finale placement; the show itself chose to put it there.
• Prime trailer slots at The Game Awards can cost around half a million dollars, fueling questions about how a new studio could afford the finale spotlight.
• Fans speculate host Geoff Keighley championed the game, aligning with his enthusiastic on-air comments.
• Backlash followed, with some arguing the reveal hurt anticipation by underdelivering on the event’s grand-finale expectations.

Why it matters:
The revelation reframes the discourse around Highguard’s debut. Rather than a pay-to-win finale, the spot appears to have been an editorial or curatorial decision by the show, which shifts attention from budget to perceived fit and timing.

What’s next:
Highguard launches in nine days. With expectations reset, the question is whether strong gameplay and post-launch support can win over skeptics who felt the premiere didn’t match the moment.

Source: https://insider-gaming.com/highguard-devs-didnt-pay-for-game-awards-spot/