Dusty Welch
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Highguard servers to go offline on March 12, 2026
Wildlight Entertainment's game Highguard will cease operations on March 12, 2026, due to an inability to sustain a player base. The studio cited that despite over two million players engaging with the game, it did not meet long-term viability metrics. Reports also suggest layoffs and financing issues tied to Tencent subsidiary TiMi Studio Group.
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.
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 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.
