The live-service shooter, Highguard, has sadly met its demise, and its servers will soon go dark. This game, developed by Wildlight Entertainment, failed to capture and retain a dedicated player base, despite the developers' best efforts.
Highguard's journey began with a bang, announced at The Game Awards 2025, but its launch on January 26th, 2026, was met with a mixed reception. While it peaked at an impressive 100,000 concurrent players on Steam, the game struggled to maintain this momentum. SteamDB charts reveal a rapid decline, with the player base shrinking to just over 15,000 in the first weekend and eventually dipping below 1,000 players a month later.
But here's where it gets controversial: Wildlight didn't sit idle. They listened to player feedback and implemented changes, adding new modes, heroes, and features to enhance the gameplay experience. However, these efforts fell short, and Highguard's player base continued to dwindle. In the end, the game couldn't recover, and its closure is imminent.
And this is the part most people miss: the impact of financial backers. According to a Bloomberg report, Wildlight's financial backer, Tencent, pulled its funding after the game failed to meet certain metrics, specifically retention rates. This led to layoffs, with a developer claiming that "most of the team" was let go just two weeks after launch.
Our reviewer, Ford James, echoed these sentiments, stating that Highguard's biggest issue was "too many ideas." The game blended various elements, from first-person shooter mechanics to MOBA-style base destruction, hero abilities, and resource gathering. While the FPS foundation showcased the developers' expertise, the game's pacing suffered.
So, what went wrong with Highguard? Was it the game's design, the marketing strategy, or the financial backing? These are questions the industry will continue to ponder. Highguard's closure serves as a reminder that building and sustaining a player base is an intricate dance, and sometimes, even the best efforts fall short.
What are your thoughts on Highguard's failure? Do you think the game had potential, or was it doomed from the start? Feel free to share your opinions and engage in a discussion below!
