Highguard Developer Wildight Entertainment Announces Layoffs Less Than a Month After Release

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Wildlight Entertainment, the developer of the game Highguard, recently had layoffs. This happened just weeks after Highguard launched to a mixed reception, raising concerns about the game’s future.

From the moment it was announced, Highguard has faced criticism. Revealed as the final game shown at The Game Awards 2025, it disappointed many gamers who were tired of games that constantly require ongoing purchases. Despite this negative reaction, Highguard launched on January 26th. However, it didn’t meet player expectations, and the number of people playing on Steam quickly dropped after launch – peaking at 97,249 according to SteamDB. The developer had planned to add more content after launch, but those plans are now uncertain.

Highguard Developer Announces Layoffs Less Than a Month After the Game’s Release

On February 11th, Alex Graner, a designer at Wildlight Entertainment, announced on LinkedIn that he and most of his team had been laid off. Wildlight Entertainment confirmed this news in a tweet, stating they had made the difficult decision to reduce staff while maintaining a small core team to continue developing and supporting their game. The company expressed pride in their team and the game they created, and thanked players of Highguard, promising continued support for the game in the future.

Wildlight Entertainment has announced continued support for the game, but the extent of that support is still unclear. The company mentioned “innovation,” hinting at the possibility of new content. However, recent layoffs raise questions about the future of the game’s planned updates through 2026. A developer, Graner, expressed disappointment that much of the content they and others created for the game might never be released, sharing on LinkedIn that it was a particularly difficult outcome.

Image via Wildlight Entertainment

Wildlight Entertainment had a detailed plan for new content in the year ahead, aiming to release seven episodes by December. These updates were designed to keep the game, Highguard, fresh and engaging with new areas, characters, weapons, and game modes. However, due to the game’s unsuccessful launch, Graner suggested that some of these planned features might be cancelled.

Although Highguard didn’t receive positive reviews when it first came out, it has still found an audience with certain players. This is likely disappointing for those who hoped it would become more popular, especially on Steam, where it currently has only 2,755 players. The game is still running, but it’s uncertain whether the developers, now working with a smaller team, can attract more players in the future.

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2026-02-12 05:04