While Highguard recently got its Episode 2 update with brand new content, developer Wildlight Entertainment seems to be going through some difficult times. In a social media post, the studio has announced that it has undergone lay-offs. While it hasn’t revealed the exact number of employees being let go, the post noted that there will be a core group of developers that will continue to work on the free-to-play multiplayer shooter.
“Today we made an incredibly difficult decision to part ways with a number of our team members while keeping a core group of developers to continue innovating on and supporting the game,” wrote the developer. “We’re proud of the team, talent, and the product we’ve created together. We’re also grateful for players who gave the game a shot, and those who continue to be a part of our community.”
In a LinkedIn post, former Highguard level designer, Alex Graner, revealed that “most of the team at Wildlight” was laid off. He also said that there is plenty of unreleased content that was being worked on for game at the time.
“Unfortunately, along with most of the team at Wildlight, I was laid off today,” wrote Graner. “This one really stings as there was a lot of unreleased content I was really looking forward to that I and others designed for Highguard.”
Highguard was unveiled during The Game Awards 2025 in December under controversial circumstances—it was the final trailer showcased before the end of the show. Leading up to the PvP raid shooter’s eventual release in January, there had been plenty of questions about it, especially since the reveal trailer didn’t really show off any gameplay.
Studio co-founder Chad Grenier has since noted that, in hindsight, the TGA reveal for Highguard was “maybe a little risky”. Originally, the studio had planned for a shadowdrop in the vein of Apex Legends. However, Geoff Keighley “wanted to do something special” with the reveal.
“We’ve known Geoff for a long time, and he said, ‘let me do something,’ that’s maybe a little risky in hindsight—but different, [to] take a free to play PvP Raid Shooter and do something with it,” explained Grenier. “So we rushed a trailer together. I wish the reception had been better, but in hindsight we made a trailer to entertain really quickly, and didn’t show the gameplay loop, and what’s different and unique.”
More recently, Wildlight Entertainment CEO Dusty Welch has admitted that he won’t be able to stop questioning if the reveal during TGA 2025 was a good idea any time soon.
“That’s an incredibly fair question, and it’s one I ask myself quite a bit,” he said when asked if it was a good idea. “It’s one that I’m going to continue to ask myself for a period of time. If we are wildly successful, I will still ask myself that because I’m interested in the business side and how we communicate to players and press. And was that the right way? Was there a different way? Was there a better way? And I don’t know the answer to that yet today.”
Highguard is available on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, and at least for the time being, there don’t seem to be plans to shut its servers down. For more details, check out our review of its launch version. Also check out details about the 5v5 mode that was recently made into a permanent addition to its game modes.
It’s always tough to hear about layoffs, especially in a creative industry. It’s great to see that the core team will continue development, and I look forward to seeing what they bring in future updates. Wishing everyone at Highguard Studio the best during this transition.
I completely agree; layoffs can be particularly challenging in creative fields where collaboration is key. It’s encouraging, though, that the core team will continue to push forward with development. This might lead to even more focused and innovative updates in the future!
Absolutely, layoffs can disrupt the creative flow and team dynamics. It’s great to hear that Highguard is maintaining a “core group” to continue development, as their collaboration will likely be essential for maintaining the quality of future updates. I hope the remaining team can adapt and thrive during this transition.
I completely agree—layoffs can have a significant impact on a team’s creativity. It’s encouraging that Highguard still has a core group to push forward with development. This continuity might help maintain the vision for future updates and keep the community engaged during this transition.
It’s great to hear your perspective! It’s interesting to note that maintaining a “core group” could help preserve the vision and continuity of the project, which might be vital for the upcoming updates. Let’s hope their creativity thrives despite the challenges!