"We have not been able to build a sustainable player base to support the game long term," says Wildlight Entertain

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Wildlight Entertainment is shutting down its multiplayer shooter Highguard on March 12, 2026, citing failure to build a sustainable player base. The studio, founded by former Respawn Entertainment developers, attracted over two million players since launch but fell short of retention metrics required by its funder, reportedly Tencent's TiMi Studio Group. Fewer than 20 staff remain following recent layoffs. The game launched January 26 with minimal marketing, attempting to replicate Apex Legends' shadow-drop strategy, but received a mixed reception after its reveal at The Game Awards.

Highguard servers to go offline on March 12, 2026