Recent layoffs at Wildlight Entertainment have impacted the development team behind the multiplayer shooter Highguard, which launched on January 26, 2026. Just two weeks post-launch, a significant portion of the staff was let go, although the exact number remains unconfirmed. The decision to downsize was communicated through a statement on Wildlight's official social media, indicating that a core team would remain to support and innovate for the game. Initial player engagement for Highguard was strong, reaching positions in the top ten for weekly active users on Steam and other platforms, but subsequent player counts dropped significantly. While previous plans included a roadmap of new content and updates for the game, the future of these initiatives remains uncertain following the layoffs.

What happened to Wildlight Entertainment after the release of Highguard?

Following the release of Highguard, Wildlight Entertainment experienced significant layoffs, impacting most of the development team just weeks after the game's launch.

Highguard is a free-to-play multiplayer shooter that allows players to compete in various modes. Upon release, it introduced a competitive 3v3 mode, which was quickly expanded to a 5v5 format based on player feedback. Despite a successful debut, with a peak concurrent player count of nearly 100,000, the game's player base saw a rapid decline shortly after. As the studio continues to evaluate its plans, the future content roadmap, originally set to provide monthly updates and new features, now hangs in the balance.