Geoff's Hype Could not Stop Highguard Layoffs

Wildlight Leisure, the studio behind Highguard, has reportedly let most of its employees go. This means that Highguard is already winding down, in a narrative that has sadly been predicted by many for the reason that sport’s launch.

Highguard began out in a distinguished place, being the final announcement of The Sport Awards 2025. The preliminary buzz was adopted by a interval of silence, with some involved that the sport had been canned. Then, on January 26, Highguard launched on PC and consoles with a free-to-play mannequin, permitting anybody to leap in.

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At one with the forest.

Whereas the preliminary Highguard previews have been sturdy, they have not been mirrored in participant numbers. As reported by Shinobi602 on Twitter/X, a number of members of the Highguard staff are posting on LinkedIn that they have been laid off, hinting that the sport’s remaining content material had been shelved.

What’s Subsequent For Highguard?

Shedding many of the employees is a reasonably unhealthy signal for a live-service sport, particularly so quickly after launch. Infamously, Harmony lasted about the identical period of time earlier than being shelved, and just lately, the 2XKO staff downsized, suggesting the sport might quickly be on the chopping block.

Whereas Highguard obtained a ton of buzz, initially from The Sport Awards, after which the quite a few controversies surrounding the sport, it appeared not one of the consideration translated into gamers really sticking round and placing cash into their sport.

Shedding many of the employees is a reasonably unhealthy signal for a live-service sport, particularly so quickly after launch.

In the long run, a sport lives or dies by its gameplay. Highguard had a whole lot of benefits over many titles which were thrown onto Steam with little to no fanfare, and it simply could not promote itself. If the sport was enjoyable sufficient to maintain individuals logging in day after day, like ARC Raiders, then it may have been a contender.

So, what’s subsequent for Highguard? Is a Ultimate Fantasy 14-style resurrection on the playing cards? It actually looks as if that is the top for Highguard, and that there are limits to what publicity, each good and unhealthy, can do for a live-service sport.