Wildlight Entertainment Cuts Most Staff Weeks After Highguard Launch
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
Wildlight Entertainment has laid off most of its staff just weeks after the launch of its multiplayer shooter Highguard, according to former developers and studio confirmations.
The turbulent reality of modern live service development has claimed another studio. Wildlight Entertainment has laid off the vast majority of its team, according to former staff, just over two weeks after the studio released its free-to-play multiplayer shooter, Highguard. The cuts arrive abruptly following the game's January 26 launch, highlighting how unforgiving the current market is for new multiplayer releases trying to capture player attention in a crowded ecosystem.
Former senior level designer Alex Graner shared the news on LinkedIn, stating that he and most of the team at Wildlight were let go. While the exact number of affected developers remains undisclosed, the studio's LinkedIn profile lists its total headcount between 51 and 200 employees. This massive reduction in staff comes on the heels of reports that Highguard is already winding down, with a final farewell patch rolling out to give remaining players new content before support ends.
For a gaming community that invests time, emotion, and money into digital economies and battle passes, seeing a project collapse this quickly is always frustrating. Live service games demand continuous momentum, creator backing, and player retention from day one, and when a launch misses the mark, the human cost behind these virtual spaces is painfully high. Original reporting comes via Michael Higham at IGN South Africa, with further details available.
Tags: Industry News, Highguard, Wildlight Entertainment, Live Service, Layoffs
Original article: IGN South Africa