Highguard, developed by Wildlight Entertainment, faces significant challenges after a round of layoffs that left the team reduced to fewer than 20 members. Originally launched as a hero shooter following a failed survival game concept, Highguard received positive feedback during testing. However, post-launch player retention was poor, resulting in minimal revenue from microtransactions and negative reviews. The situation worsened when financial backer Tencent withdrew funding, leading to most of the 100-person team being laid off. Despite the adversity, the remaining developers are committed to improving the game and plan to release a new patch soon.

nWhat caused the layoffs at Wildlight Entertainment after Highguard's launch?

The layoffs at Wildlight Entertainment were primarily due to Highguard's inability to retain players post-launch, leading to disappointing financial returns and the withdrawal of funding from financial backer Tencent.

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Highguard was launched on January 26, 2026, after an initially positive reception during its development phases. The studio, formed by Respawn Entertainment veterans, initially aimed to replicate past successes like Apex Legends and Titanfall. The pivot to a hero shooter format intended to address previous design flaws ultimately did not translate into a successful launch, leaving developers working against the odds to salvage the project.