Could pre-launch open testing have saved Highguard?

An analysis of Highguard's failure examines whether pre-launch open testing could have prevented the game's struggles. The piece suggests that the studio's confidence and lack of external feedback during development—potentially stemming from hubris—contributed to undetected issues that emerged post-launch. The story underscores the value of early community testing for identifying problems before release.

Appeared in 2026-02-27.