Wildlight Entertainment, the team behind the controversial title Highguard have confirmed they are laying off a number of their staff. This has occurred less than a month post-launch. Highguard has been on the receiving end of a ton of negativity since its release, with player numbers rapidly decreasing. So, what does this mean for the future of the game? Let’s find out as Wildlight confirms major layoffs.
Today we made 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.
— Wildlight Entertainment (@WildlightEnt) February 12, 2026
We're proud of the team, talent, and the product we've created together. We're also grateful…
News of the layoffs was initially shared earlier in the week on LinkedIn by developer Alex Graner and was then reposted by other colleagues. Now Wildlight Entertainment has confirmed that they have indeed laid off many members of the team in the above social media post.
Highguard has been in the headlines ever since its release towards the end of January. Following high initial player numbers, these quickly tailed off in a flurry of negativity, with players disliking various features of the game – particularly having 3v3 as the only available game mode. Wildlight responded quickly to the feedback and introduced a 5v5 mode which was then made into a permanent addition to the game at the beginning of this month. You can read our article on that here. Player numbers have remained largely consistent since the initial drop, but are clearly not high enough for Wildlight Entertainment to justify keeping the whole team onboard. Highguard was the debut game from the studio, so it is unclear as to what will happen next.
UPDATE: According to a report on Eurogamer, Wildlight have confirmed that Highguard will not be shut down, but will instead be handed over to a ‘core team of developers’ to allow it to continue.
Our very own SoulBlazerz travelled to LA for the Highguard preview event, and was a fan of the title, saying “Many, many people doubted Highguard after its reveal trailer, and I understand why. The team always planned to shadowdrop the game, and that trailer was supposed to be followed by a full match of gameplay. But just as Wildlight Studios themselves don’t regret their choice, the past is the past, and what matters now is that we have this incredible multiplayer experience polished and ready to play in our hands. So what are you waiting for? Ignore the noise and check out Highguard for yourselves. Trust me, you won’t regret it.” You can read his full thoughts here.
Is this the end for Wildlight Entertainment? I guess we will have to wait and see.
How do you feel about Highguard? Let us know in the DayOne Forums or make some noise in the lively DayOne Community Discord Server. If you’re looking to be a bigger part of an amazing community, then either choice is a good one!
