Highguard Shuts Down Less Than Two Months After Launch

Wildlight Entertainment’s free-to-play “raid shooter” Highguard is shutting down on March 12, 2026, less than two months after its release. The game, developed by a team with experience from titles like Apex Legends and Call of Duty, failed to build a sustainable player base, according to the developer. Polygon first reported the news.

A Brief History of Highguard

Highguard launched on January 26, 2026, initially attracting nearly 100,000 concurrent players on Steam, according to SteamDB. However, player numbers rapidly declined, falling to just over 15,000 during the first weekend after launch and dwindling to around 1,000 concurrent players by the finish of January. IGN reports that over 2 million players tried the game since launch.

The Game Awards and Initial Reception

Highguard’s unveiling at The Game Awards 2025, secured through a last-minute offer from host Geoff Keighley, has been viewed by Wildlight CEO Dusty Welch as potentially detrimental in hindsight. Polygon notes that the game’s reveal and subsequent weeks of silence contributed to a mixed reception. Reviews described Highguard as a first-person shooter blending elements of MOBA lane skirmishes and base raiding mechanics similar to Rainbow Six: Siege. CNET’s David Lumb described the game as a “raid shooter.”

Layoffs and Final Update

In February 2026, Wildlight Entertainment underwent layoffs, signaling internal struggles. Geeks and Gamers reports that the timing of the layoffs suggests the studio was already facing a crisis. Prior to the shutdown, Wildlight plans to release one final update, including a new Warden, a new weapon, account level progression, and skill trees. IGN states the patch is expected to be released sometime this week.

Reasons for Failure

Wildlight attributes the shutdown to an inability to establish a sustainable player base. Esports.gg highlights that the game shut down just 45 days after its release. Some players on Reddit cited dated visuals and confusing gameplay as contributing factors. Geeks and Gamers reports that former developers attributed the game’s failure to “hubris” from studio leadership and a lack of understanding of the current gaming landscape.