Highguard Shut Down Weeks After Launch Amidst Funding Issues
The free-to-play shooter Highguard has ceased operations less than two months after its release. Developer Wildlight Entertainment has removed its online presence, and players are reportedly receiving refunds. Funding issues, including Tencent reportedly pulling support, are cited as primary reasons for the game's swift demise.
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As the Highguard Dev Team Goes Dark, Refunds Reportedly Being Issued to PS5 Customers
The free-to-play online shooter Highguard has been shut down by developer Wildlight Entertainment after only a few weeks. Players who made in-game purchases on PlayStation 5 are reportedly receiving refunds from Sony. Wildlight Entertainment's online presence has also been removed, suggesting the studio may be closing its doors.
Highguard Players Get Refunds As Dev Seemingly Shuts Down For Good
The free-to-play shooter Highguard has ceased operations, with players on PlayStation 5 reporting that Sony is issuing refunds for in-game microtransaction purchases. Developer Wildlight's online presence has vanished, and the company previously laid off most of its staff. Tencent was among the funders who reportedly pulled support after the game's launch, with the game failing to generate sufficient revenue.
Highguard Officially Shuts Down, Joins Concord in Digital Graveyard
Highguard has officially shut down, with its servers going offline on March 12th and the game being delisted from all digital storefronts including Steam and PlayStation 5. The closure of this live service game is being compared to the similar fate of Concord, highlighting concerns about game preservation and the disposable nature of online-only titles in the industry.
Ex-Naughty Dog artist who helped design characters for Highguard promises to keep fighting the good fight - just not in the live-service sphere, anymore
Former Naughty Dog artist Del Walker, who contributed to games like The Last of Us Part 2, is stepping away from live-service game development following the shutdown of Highguard. Walker, known for his character designs, stated he will continue to focus on creating diverse characters, particularly Black women, but will no longer invest his energy into games that risk disappearing shortly after launch. Highguard, a 3v3 shooter, was shut down just weeks after its January release due to dwindling player numbers and funding issues, mirroring the fate of other live-service titles like Sony's Concord.
Former Highguard dev who called out grave-dancing over the reveal trailer says the discourse 'had some very dark corners that may have accelerated the timeline of our failure,' but adds, 'it wasn't the primary cause'
Former Highguard lead technical artist Josh Sobel has clarified his earlier statements regarding the game's demise, admitting his initial reaction to criticism was a mistake fueled by stress. While acknowledging that online discourse may have accelerated the game's failure, he stated it was not the primary cause, attributing the outcome to multiple factors and the game's release in a crowded genre.
Highguard is shutting down less than two months after launch
Wildlight Entertainment has announced that its free-to-play raid shooter Highguard will be shutting down its servers on March 12th, 2026, less than two months after its launch. Despite a passionate team and a final update planned, the game failed to build a sustainable player base, with funding from Tencent reportedly being pulled. Performance issues and controversial early gameplay decisions contributed to a poor first impression for the live service title.
Was Highguard Always Doomed To Fail?
The developers of Highguard have announced the permanent shutdown of the game on March 12. Over 2 million players have engaged with Highguard's world since its launch. The team expressed gratitude for player feedback and belief in their project.
You’ve got a whopping one week to play Highguard’s last patch, hero, and account progression system
Wildlight has released the final update for its hero shooter Highguard, introducing an account progression system, a new hero named Koldo, and a new gun. The game is scheduled to shut down on March 12th, after a brief 45-day lifespan, due to an inability to build a sustainable player base despite an initial surge in popularity.
Highguard stänger för gott
Wildlight Entertainment has confirmed that their free-to-play shooter Highguard will be shut down on March 12, less than two months after its January 26 release. Despite efforts and a player base of over two million, the game failed to build a sustainable community. Developers with experience from Apex Legends and Titanfall were involved in its creation.
Highguard will shut down just 45 days after launch — 'We are witnessing the era of two month lifespan…
Wildlight Entertainment has announced that its online shooter Highguard will shut down on March 12, 2026, just 45 days after its January 26, 2026 launch. The studio cited an inability to build a sustainable player base despite over two million players engaging with the game. This closure follows a trend of high-profile live-service game failures, including Sony's Concord.
Highguard will shut down permanently next week because Wildlight doesn't make "enough revenue to keep anyone employed to work on it"
Developer Wildlight is permanently shutting down its free-to-play hero shooter Highguard on March 12th, less than six weeks after its launch. Despite attracting over two million players, the game failed to generate enough revenue to sustain its development. Wildlight cited a lack of a sustainable player base as the primary reason for the closure, with a final update planned before servers go offline.
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.
Highguard Closing Next Week
Wildlight Entertainment announced that its free-to-play shooter Highguard will be shutting down on March 12th. This decision follows unexpected developer layoffs, suggesting a challenging period for the company.
Highguard Shutdown Announced Just 37 Days After Launch — Too Much Gaming | Video Games Reviews, News, & Guides
Wildlight Entertainment has announced that its online shooter Highguard will be shut down on March 12, just 37 days after its launch. Despite attracting over 2 million players, the developer cited an inability to build a sustainable player base. A final update is planned, adding new content before the servers go offline.
Highguard will be permanently shut down on March 12
The online game Highguard will be permanently shut down on March 12. The developers expressed gratitude to the over 2 million players who have engaged with the game since its launch.
Highguard Closes Its Doors Just Weeks After Launch - GameHaunt
Wildlight Entertainment's free-to-play raid shooter Highguard will shut down its servers on March 12, 2026, just 45 days after its late January launch. Despite attracting nearly 100,000 peak concurrent players on Steam and over 2 million total players, the game failed to retain daily active users due to harsh feedback on its format and loot systems. Tencent reportedly pulled funding, leading to significant layoffs at Wildlight Entertainment.
RIP Highguard: In a better world, an FPS is allowed to be unpopular
Wildlight Entertainment announced that its 3v3 raid shooter Highguard will shut down on March 12, just 45 days after its launch. Despite having a dedicated player base, the game was reportedly cut due to its backer, Tencent, withdrawing funding after it failed to become a major hit. The article criticizes the trend of live service games being quickly discarded rather than exploring options for continued play.
Highguard has raided its last fortress, will shutdown on March 12
Wildlight Studios announced that its live-service multiplayer shooter Highguard will permanently shut down on March 12, just 46 days after its launch. Despite efforts to add new content and support from over two million players, the game failed to build a sustainable player base. Factors contributing to its demise include a lack of marketing post-announcement, dwindling player counts, and reportedly, Tencent pulling funding.
Highguard is permanently shutting down barely a month after its debut
Wildlight Entertainment announced that its multiplayer live service shooter Highguard will permanently shut down on March 12, 2026, less than a year after its launch. Despite efforts and a player base of over 2 million, the studio cited an inability to sustain the game long-term. A final content update will be released this week before the servers go offline.
Highguard announces inevitable shutdown, coming soon
Wildlight Entertainment has announced that its game Highguard will shut down on March 12th due to a failure to build a sustainable player base following a criticized launch. Despite a final update adding new content, the developers could not overcome the initial backlash and dwindling player count. The game launched on January 26th and received criticism for its 'shadow drop' strategy and gameplay.
