Highguard didn't flop

It's surprising to hear how expectant the Highguard studio was before launch. Despite running no public playtests, the mood ahead of the Game Awards reveal was that the competitive shooter would likely be a major hit, according to a former employee of the now-diminished studio.

It's not any particular feature of Highguard that makes me think the confidence was misplaced. It's just the fact that most new shooters aren't massive hits. Where did anyone get the idea that there are sure things?