Highguard is already facing turbulence. Just two weeks after its January 26 launch, developer Wildlight Entertainment confirmed layoffs across the studio. Reports suggest “most” of the team has been cut, including senior staff.

The news first came through developers’ LinkedIn posts. Lead tech artist Josh Sobel described it as the toughest parting he’s experienced, praising the team and the years invested in the project. Wildlight later acknowledged the layoffs, saying a smaller core team will continue supporting the game.

The launch of Highguard didn’t go as planned. Despite the pedigree of the team, former developers from Apex Legends and Titanfall 2, early players were confused by the trailer and marketing, and initial matches felt slow and underwhelming. Steam reviews quickly turned negative. The studio tried to respond fast, adding a 5v5 mode to spice up gameplay, but interest has yet to recover.

This pattern is becoming familiar in live service shooters: big ambitions, fast launches, and layoffs if the game doesn’t hit immediate success. While it’s not impossible for Highguard to rebound, a significantly smaller team now faces the task of turning the game around.

The next few months are gonna be critical for the game.

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