Highguard’s Developer Faces Mass Layoffs Weeks After Launch, Raising Industry Concerns
In a startling turn of events, Wildlight Entertainment, the studio behind the recently launched multiplayer shooter Highguard
, has reportedly laid off the majority of its staff just over two weeks after the game’s debut. The news sends ripples through the gaming community, highlighting the volatile nature of the live-service sector.
A Sudden and Difficult Decision
Sources close to the company, including affected employees, revealed the extensive layoffs via LinkedIn. Alex Graner, a former level designer at Wildlight, stated that “most of the team at Wildlight” was let go, a claim corroborated by former lead tech artist Josh Sobel. This drastic measure comes despite the studio boasting developers with experience on major titles like
Apex Legends and Call of Duty.
Wildlight Entertainment confirmed the restructuring in a statement, acknowledging an “incredibly difficult decision to part ways with a number of our team members while keeping a core group of developers to continue innovating on and supporting the game.” The company expressed pride in its team and product, and gratitude towards players, yet the scale of the layoffs suggests significant underlying challenges.
From Splashy Launch to Stagnant Player Count
Highguard was unveiled with considerable fanfare at The Game Awards in December, promising an exciting new entry into the competitive shooter genre. It launched on January 26th, reportedly attracting nearly 100,000 concurrent players on Steam on its release day – a promising start for any new title.
However, the initial momentum proved fleeting. As of this writing, SteamDB indicates the game’s concurrent player count has plummeted to just over 2,400, and its overall rating on the platform stands at a concerning “Mixed.” While Wildlight did attempt to adapt by making a limited-time 5v5 mode permanent shortly after launch, these efforts seemingly failed to stem the tide of declining engagement.
A Troubling Trend in Live-Service Gaming
The situation at Wildlight Entertainment is not an isolated incident. This week alone, Riot Games also announced significant cuts, laying off approximately 80 individuals from its highly anticipated fighting game, 2XKO (formerly Project L), which is set in the popular League of Legends universe. These parallel events underscore the immense pressure and financial risks associated with developing and maintaining live-service titles in an increasingly saturated market.
The rapid decline of Highguard
and the subsequent mass layoffs serve as a stark reminder of the brutal realities facing game developers today. Even with experienced talent and initial player interest, sustaining a successful online game requires more than just a strong launch; it demands continuous innovation, robust community engagement, and, crucially, a stable financial foundation.
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