Wildlight Entertainment, the studio behind the multiplayer shooter Highguard, is set to close its servers on March 12, 2026. This decision comes after the game failed to maintain a sustainable player base, despite initially attracting over two million players following its launch on January 26.
The studio, largely composed of former Respawn Entertainment veterans, launched Highguard with the aim of replicating the successful shadow-drop strategy of Apex Legends. However, the gaming landscape had evolved, and Highguard encountered significant challenges. The game saw nearly 100,000 concurrent Steam players at launch but lost around 90% of its player base within a week.
At an all-hands meeting in February, employees were informed that Wildlight Entertainment was out of money, leading to mass layoffs which left fewer than 20 staff members. The company’s financial backing reportedly hinged on meeting certain retention metrics, a target Highguard fell short of achieving. Despite suggestions to explore an early access model, Wildlight’s leadership pursued a different path that did not yield the desired results.
Tencent’s TiMi Studio Group, the lead financial backer, reportedly conditioned its funding on achieving retention metrics the game never approached. Highguard’s mixed reception after its reveal at The Game Awards in 2026 contributed further to its challenges.
A final content update will be released prior to the shutdown, addressing some of the lingering player concerns. With server closure imminent, questions remain about the game’s troubled development process and what impact it will have on the future direction of Wildlight Entertainment.

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Wildlight Entertainment is shutting down servers for its multiplayer shooter Highguard on March 12, 2026. Despite attracting over two million players at launch and nearly 100,000 concurrent Steam players, the game lost roughly 90% of its player base within a week. Financial backing from Tencent's TiMi Studio Group was contingent on hitting retention metrics the game never reached, leading to the studio running out of money and mass layoffs that left fewer than 20 staff. A final content update will precede the shutdown.

Highguard Servers to Shut Down on March 12, 2026: A Look at Wildlight Entertainment's Challenges