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Report: Fewer than 20 staff remain at Highguard dev Wildlight Entertainment
Fewer than 20 employees reportedly remain at Highguard developer Wildlight Entertainment following significant layoffs after the game's troubled launch. Sources indicate the studio ran out of money, despite being initially funded by Tencent subsidiary TiMi Studio Group. The free-to-play shooter lost approximately 90% of its player base within a week of its January 26 release.
One former Highguard level designer thinks it's struggled because Wildlight "leaned too far into the competitive scene"
A former senior level designer for Highguard suggests the game struggled due to an overemphasis on its competitive 3v3 format, which created a high skill floor and limited casual appeal. Unlike Apex Legends, which launched during a nascent battle royale era, Highguard faced a more saturated market with a steep learning curve, potentially alienating players who lacked consistent team coordination.
Sony ditches PC & Stardew Valley News | TAG
Sony is reportedly shifting focus back to console exclusivity for its single-player PlayStation games, potentially limiting future PC releases. Meanwhile, Stardew Valley's upcoming 1.7 update will add new marriage candidates, and Nvidia has recalled a problematic GPU driver.
What went wrong with Highguard? The "hubris" of its developer's leadership, say former staff in a new report
A report details issues surrounding the development and launch of Highguard, with former Wildlight Entertainment staff citing leadership hubris and financial mismanagement. The studio, founded by former Respawn developers, struggled with scope and a surprise launch strategy, leading to layoffs and a significantly reduced remaining team.
Could pre-launch open testing have saved Highguard?
Wildlight Entertainment's live service shooter Highguard failed shortly after launch due to a lack of public testing and a management decision to prioritize secrecy over community feedback. Developers cited hubris and a desire to replicate Apex Legends' secretive launch as contributing factors to the game's rapid player drop-off and the studio's subsequent implosion.
Highguard's new Raid Rush mode nips the looting phase in the bud, and it could be enough to turn its fortunes around
Wildlight Entertainment has introduced a new 'Raid Rush' mode to its multiplayer shooter Highguard, aiming to improve player retention by removing the looting phase. The update also includes weapon balance adjustments and a reduction in the Reviver Amulet's effectiveness. Legacy 3v3 modes have been disabled to consolidate the player base into the new 5v5 mode.
Godot veteran laments 'AI slop,' Highguard's mystery investor, and a big doc for Big Hops - Patch Notes #41
This week's gaming news highlights concerns over generative AI's impact on hardware availability and the influx of low-quality submissions to open-source projects like Godot. Unity claims its AI can now generate full casual games from prompts, while a documentary explores the six-year development of the indie platformer Big Hops. Other news includes Hasbro shutting down its Atomic Arcade studio, Tencent's secret funding of Highguard, a banned Call of Duty ad, ByteDance potentially selling Moonton, and Valve warning of Steam Deck OLED stock issues due to RAM shortages.
Report: Tencent was Highguard's secret financial backer
A report indicates that Tencent, through its subsidiary TiMi Studio Group, was the primary financial backer for Wildlight Entertainment's hero shooter, Highguard. Neither company has officially confirmed the report, though Wildlight CEO Dusty Welch has previously declined to discuss funding sources. Highguard launched as a free-to-play title in January 2026 but reportedly failed to meet internal expectations, leading to significant layoffs shortly after its release.
Tencent's TiMi Studio Group reportedly funded Highguard dev Wildlight Entertainment
Tencent subsidiary TiMi Studio Group reportedly served as the lead financial backer for Wildlight Entertainment, the developer of Highguard. Wildlight, formed in 2023 by former Respawn Entertainment developers, has not publicly commented on the funding details. This news comes after Wildlight recently laid off an unspecified number of employees.
Highguard's high-profile mistakes should be a lesson for other developers | Opinion
The article analyzes the significant missteps made by Wildlight Entertainment with their hero shooter Highguard, including a muddled pitch, a risky shadow-drop strategy, and a poor launch state, leading to layoffs. It argues that while the game faced criticism, much of the vitriol was disproportionate and highlights the challenges of launching live service games in a competitive market, drawing parallels to the failure of Concord.
Highguard dev Wildlight Entertainment confirms layoffs, "most of the team" depart following troubled launch
Wildlight Entertainment, the developer of the free-to-play shooter Highguard, has confirmed layoffs, with a core group of developers remaining to support the game. Former employees indicate that most of the team was let go following the game's troubled launch and mixed reception. CEO Dusty Welch acknowledged that the marketing and reveal trailer could have better represented the game's unique mechanics.
