Is Highguard Dying? Roadmap in Danger After Massive Studio Cuts
You know that electric feeling when a new shooter drops? The servers go live, the chaos starts, and for a moment, everything feels possible.
Highguard had that energy when it launched on January 26. The movement was crisp, the gunplay felt snappy, and it genuinely seemed like Wildlight Entertainment had something special cooking. But the gaming industry can be incredibly cruel.
Just over two weeks after that launch, the mood has shifted from celebration to heartbreak. Wildlight has been hit with significant layoffs, leaving the future of this fresh free-to-play title in a very complicated spot.
It’s a jarring reminder that even a solid launch doesn’t guarantee safety for the people behind the screen.
Also learn more about Highguard and the official release!
From Top Ten to Skeleton Crew
The whiplash here is intense. According to Mat Piscatella at Circana, Highguard wasn’t just existing; it was thriving initially. It debuted in the top 10 for weekly active users on Steam in the US. It even cracked the top 20 on Xbox and PlayStation.
On Steam specifically, the game peaked at over 97,000 concurrent players. That is a massive number for a new IP. However, the drop-off was just as sharp. Two weeks later, those numbers dipped to around 4,500.
While player retention is always a battle, the studio’s reaction was immediate and severe.
Former developers took to social media to break the news before the studio even put out a statement.
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…
The Human Cost
This isn’t just about player counts or concurrent users. It’s about people like Alex Graner, a Senior Level Designer. He shared on LinkedIn that he, along with “most of the team,” was let go. He mentioned there was unreleased content he was excited about—stuff they had already designed but that players might never see now.
Josh Sobel, a Tech Artist on the project, echoed that sentiment.
He called the Wildlight staff the “best team I’ve ever worked with,” noting that he’d never put so much of himself into a project before. Reading their posts, you can feel the sting. They built a world, watched people flood into it, and then lost their jobs days later.
Wildlight eventually confirmed the news on X (formerly Twitter).
They stated they made the “incredibly difficult decision” to part ways with team members while keeping a “core group” to support the game.
Today I was laid off from Wildlight along with most of the staff. It was the best team I've ever worked with, and I've never put so much of myself into a project before. I wouldn't trade the past 2.5+ yrs for anything. I'm still spinning, and won't be in a place to start thinking… pic.twitter.com/AimTVwrJ7N
— Josh Sobel (@Joshiepoo25) February 11, 2026
Can the “Core Group” Keep Up?
This leaves players with a big question mark. Live-service games are hungry beasts. They need constant feeding—new maps, balance patches, skins, and events.
Wildlight had a roadmap. They promised seven episodes throughout the year, with new characters and modes dropping monthly. Can a skeleton crew maintain that pace?
The studio says they are continuing to innovate and support the game. They’ve already made the 5v5 mode permanent, listening to early feedback.
But stripped of “most” of its workforce, delivering that ambitious content roadmap is going to be an uphill battle.
A Nervous Wait for the Future
It’s hard to predict where Highguard goes from here. The foundation is there. The gameplay loop is fun. But a game needs a team to keep it alive, and that team just got a lot smaller.
For the players sticking around, the hope is that the remaining devs can stabilize the ship.
For the developers looking for work, we hope they land on their feet quickly. They built something cool, and they deserved better than a two-week run.
Have you already tried Highguard? How’s been your experience so far? Let us know in the comment section!
A video game enthusiast ever since I first got my hands on a Game Boy. Over the years, I've played many different games across various genres, discovering hidden gems and niche titles along the way. I'm also passionate about technology, always up-to-date with the latest news and insight in the PC and Console market. Ready to share and bring you the latest news !
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This news about Highguard's team lay-offs is not that surprising, given the initial backlash the game had.It puts their entire roadmap in jeopardy, leaving fans wondering if the game will ever actually reach its full potential or just wither away. When a studio loses key talent like this, it’s rarely just a "restructuring"—it usually signals deep trouble for the game's future support and quality.