Highguard Developer Wildlight Confirms Layoffs Just Weeks After Launch
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
Wildlight confirms layoffs at Highguard developer studio just weeks after release, following reports from former staff that the majority of the team was let go.
Wildlight, the studio behind the recently launched shooter Highguard, has confirmed a round of layoffs impacting an unspecified number of employees. The announcement follows multiple social media posts from affected developers, including senior level designer Alex Graner, who stated on LinkedIn that most of the team was let go. Additional departures were confirmed by former staff members in community, art, and production roles, painting a grim picture of the studio's current operational status just weeks after the game hit platforms.
Highguard officially released on January 26, following a quiet marketing rollout that drew considerable industry discourse after its initial reveal at The Game Awards in December. Early critical consensus painted the shooter as a competent genre mix that delivers solid matches without necessarily reinventing the wheel. Despite the game landing on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S with ongoing updates planned, the sudden and sweeping reduction in headcount raises serious questions about the long-term support and stability of the project.
As the industry continues to grapple with widespread studio cuts, this latest news serves as another heavy blow to developer communities across the board. Wildlight has maintained that a core group of developers will remain to support and update the game moving forward, but the loss of so much talent stings for a title still trying to carve out its place in a crowded live-service market. For full details on the initial reports and developer statements, you can read the original coverage on Rock Paper Shotgun.
Tags: Highguard, Wildlight, Industry News, Layoffs, Shooters
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun