Report Reveals Tencent Silently Backed Wildlight Entertainment's Highguard
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
A new report reveals that Tencent's TiMi studio group provided the majority of the undisclosed funding for Wildlight Entertainment's struggling raid shooter Highguard, following recent studio layoffs and website closures.
The rocky launch of Wildlight Entertainment's raid shooter Highguard has a new layer of complexity, according to a recent report from GameFile journalist Stephen Totilo via Polygon. While the studio consistently maintained that the project was fully funded, anonymous sources indicate that the financial heavy lifting actually came from Tencent. Specifically, the backing reportedly originated through Tencent's TiMi studio group, though the exact financial figures remain undisclosed by either party. This revelation adds context to how a new studio with around one hundred employees, largely consisting of former Respawn Entertainment talent across Los Angeles and Seattle, managed to secure high profile visibility, including a major reveal slot during The Game Awards.
Questions are naturally swirling around why the partnership was kept under wraps, especially given the tight connections within the industry. Tencent senior vice president Steven Ma serves on The Game Awards advisory board, though host Geoff Keighley previously stated that the game's initial showcase spot was provided for free after he personally playtested it. Regardless of the marketing push, Highguard faced a rough community reception right out of the gate. Despite ambitious plans for seasonal updates and polished cinematic lore drops, the title quickly hit turbulence.
The situation at Wildlight has deteriorated rapidly following the launch. Recent layoffs have reduced the developer to a skeleton crew, and the official game website recently went offline, leaving the future of the project entirely uncertain. Neither Wildlight nor Tencent have responded to requests for comment regarding the funding arrangement or its potential influence on the studio's recent downsizing. For players and community members watching from the sidelines across PC and console, it highlights the often opaque financial structures supporting modern live service gambles and the immense pressure riding on new multiplayer IP.
Tags: Highguard, Tencent, Wildlight Entertainment, Industry News, Live Service
Original article: Polygon