Concord and Highguard: the challenges of PUBG's live-service games

The gaming industry continues to evolve, especially when it comes to live-service games. PUBG Studios' recent experiences with the titles Concord and Highguard show just how difficult it can be to succeed in this competitive market.

Concord: a promising start, a rapid downfall

Concord launched in August 2024 and, despite a promising start, shut down just two weeks after release. It served as a stark reminder of the challenges developers face in the live-service arena. The studio behind Concord was also closed after the game flopped. This swift shutdown highlights the high expectations and pressure new titles face at a time when players can quickly lose interest in favor of alternatives.

Highguard and the lessons of failure

PUBG Studios' next attempt, Highguard, launched in late January 2026, but that venture also ended in disappointment. The game was only live until early March 2026 before closing its doors. Highguard's developer, Wildlight, also ceased operations after the failure. This shows that even established studios are not immune to the challenges that come with developing live-service games.

PUBG: Blindspot and another less successful story

While Concord and Highguard drew attention, PUBG Studios also faced another failure: PUBG: Blindspot. This top-down tactical shooter had an early access period of less than two months and was permanently shut down in March 2026. The persistence of these failed projects underscores the relentless search for the right concept in an overcrowded market.

PUBG Studios' future plans

PUBG franchise director Taeseok Jang has shared his reflections on the lessons learned from these experiences. He emphasized the importance of rapid prototyping in small teams and gathering community feedback during development. Jang argues that PUBG should not be seen as a single game, but as a long-term franchise aiming for cultural impact on a global scale.

PUBG Studios has ambitious plans for the continued development of PUBG, including collaborations with external studios to create new game modes. The introduction of a Payday mode in May, born from a partnership with Starbreeze, is one example of how PUBG Studios is looking for new ways to expand the gameplay experience.

As the industry continues to grow and change, the stories of Concord, Highguard, and PUBG: Blindspot remain essential to understanding what it takes to build sustainable live-service games. Given the pace of change in the market, keeping players engaged with innovative and varied gameplay experiences remains a major challenge.