Highguard to Close Its Doors Next Week
Wildlight Entertainment has announced that its free-to-play multiplayer siege shooter, Highguard, will end on March 12, just weeks after its launch on January 26.
Despite initial excitement following its reveal at The Game Awards 2025, Highguard struggled to build and maintain a player base. Mixed responses and live-service fatigue led to declining player numbers. Although a year-long content roadmap and multiple updates were released post-launch, the situation did not improve, leading to layoffs within the company.
Wildlight stated that Highguard did not attract enough players to justify ongoing support. Players are encouraged to enjoy the game’s remaining days, as servers will remain active until March 12. A final patch will introduce a new playable character, weapons, skill trees, and account-level progression.
Today we share challenging news. We have decided to permanently shut down Highguard on March 12.
Thank you for the over 2 million players who engaged with Highguard. Your feedback and support have meant a lot to us. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, we couldn’t establish a sustainable player base for the long haul. We’d love for you to join us one last time for great matches before we conclude this chapter.
The announcement raised questions about the future of Wildlight, which now has fewer than 20 employees following a tumultuous development process. Originally founded by former team members from Respawn Entertainment and partially backed by Tencent, the studio’s situation underscores its challenges.
The closure of Highguard is reminiscent of the fate of other multiplayer shooters, highlighting the unpredictable nature of live-service games where player engagement can quickly decline.
Key Takeaways
- Highguard’s server operations will end on March 12, after launching on January 26.
- The game faced challenges with player retention due to mixed initial reactions.
- A final update is scheduled to introduce new content for players.
- The future of the studio remains uncertain due to a significantly reduced staff.
- The closure reflects the volatility in the live-service gaming industry.
These developments prompt a reconsideration of the sustainability of live-service games and their impact on player engagement.