Highguard Game Studio Wildlight Entertainment Lets Go Many Workers

The company that made the game Highguard, Wildlight Entertainment, has let many of its workers go. This happened because fewer people are playing the game after it came out. A small team will still work to make the game better.
By Newsroom | Gaming, Business |

A core group of developers will continue to support the game Highguard, despite the majority of the development team at Wildlight Entertainment being let go. This action follows a substantial drop in player numbers shortly after the game's release.

The future of the multiplayer shooter Highguard hangs in a precarious state. Wildlight Entertainment, the studio behind the game, has confirmed significant staff reductions. This comes less than a month after Highguard launched on January 26th. While the game is not being shut down, the developer stated that a "core group" remains to support and innovate on the title.

Timeline of Events

  • December: Highguard is revealed as the closing announcement at The Game Awards. Reports suggest Geoff Keighley, the host, played a role in convincing the team to debut the game at the event.

  • January 26th: Highguard is released for free on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. On Steam, the game peaks at 97,249 concurrent players.

  • Week ending January 31st: Highguard appears in the top 10 weekly active users on US Steam and the top 20 on US PlayStation and Xbox according to Circana Player Engagement Tracker.

  • Two weeks post-launch (early February): Concurrent player numbers on Steam drop to around 2,700 - 4,500.

  • Early February: Reports emerge of mass layoffs at Wildlight Entertainment. Former employees begin sharing news of their departure on platforms like LinkedIn.

  • February 11th (or around this date): Wildlight Entertainment officially confirms the layoffs in a statement on social media.

Actors Involved

  • Wildlight Entertainment: The developer and publisher of Highguard. The company confirmed the layoffs and stated its intention to continue supporting the game.

  • Highguard Developers: A substantial portion of the team responsible for creating and maintaining Highguard have been laid off.

  • Former Employees: Several individuals who were part of the Highguard development team have publicly confirmed their layoffs.

  • Players: The player base for Highguard showed an initial surge at launch, followed by a significant decline.

  • Circana: A company that tracks game sales and engagement, providing data on Highguard's initial player metrics.

  • Geoff Keighley: Host of The Game Awards, reportedly influenced the timing of Highguard's reveal.

Initial Player Engagement and Subsequent Decline

Highguard saw a substantial influx of players upon its release. On Steam, the game recorded a peak of 97,249 concurrent players on launch day, January 26th. Data from Circana also indicated that the game debuted strongly in player engagement, ranking within the top 10 on US Steam and top 20 on US PlayStation and Xbox for the week ending January 31st.

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However, this initial interest proved to be short-lived. Within two weeks of its release, the number of concurrent players on Steam plummeted, reportedly falling to between 2,700 and 4,500 players. This sharp decline in player retention is cited as a significant factor leading to the staffing reductions. The game has also garnered mixed reviews on Steam, reflecting divided opinions on its gameplay and systems.

Confirmation of Layoffs and Studio Statement

Wildlight Entertainment officially confirmed the layoffs. The studio's statement, released on X/Twitter, indicated a difficult decision was made to "part ways with a number of our team members." Crucially, the statement also asserted that a "core group of developers" will remain.

Highguard not shutting down following Wildlight layoffs, with a "core group" of developers left to support game - 1

"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." - Wildlight Entertainment (Official X/Twitter Statement)

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This core team is intended to focus on "innovating on and supporting the game," suggesting plans for continued updates and improvements. The extent to which the ambitious year-long content roadmap, revealed on launch day, will be affected remains unclear. Multiple former employees, including a senior level designer, have publicly shared their departure on platforms like LinkedIn. The exact number of individuals laid off has not been officially disclosed, but Wildlight's LinkedIn page previously listed its size as between 51-200 employees.

Early Reception and Development Context

Highguard's introduction to the market was met with considerable attention, partly due to its prominent reveal as the final announcement at The Game Awards in December. Reports suggest Geoff Keighley, the event's host, was instrumental in the decision for Highguard to debut at the ceremony.

Read More: Highguard Game Studio Lays Off Workers After Game Release

Despite this high-profile debut, the game faced challenges. It was compared to other titles like Concord and encountered mixed reactions from players and critics regarding its gameplay, progression, and overall design. The free-to-play raid shooter format, while popular, also faces a competitive landscape. These factors likely contributed to the initial player surge followed by a rapid decrease in engagement. The layoffs appear to span various roles within the development team, including gameplay engineers, software engineers, and UI designers, indicating a broad impact across disciplines.

Continued Game Support and Future Uncertainty

Despite the substantial reduction in staff, Wildlight Entertainment has affirmed its commitment to the continued support of Highguard. The retained "core group" is tasked with maintaining and developing the game, including planned monthly updates encompassing new items, modes, and characters across seven distinct episodes.

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Highguard not shutting down following Wildlight layoffs, with a "core group" of developers left to support game - 2

The studio's statement suggests a dedication to the game's community and performance. However, the departure of a majority of the development team inevitably raises questions about the scope and pace of future content delivery and the ability to fully realize the ambitious roadmap. While the game itself is not being shut down, the impact of these layoffs on its long-term viability and the studio's operational capacity is a significant point of consideration.

Expert Analysis

"Highguard debuted in the top 10 in weekly active users on US Steam, was top 20 on both US PlayStation and Xbox… and yet…" - Mat Piscatella, Circana (via BlueSky)

Mat Piscatella of Circana, a firm that monitors gaming industry data, highlighted the paradox of Highguard's initial strong player engagement and its subsequent rapid decline. His observation underscores the challenge of retaining players in the live-service game market, particularly for new titles. The stark contrast between launch numbers and post-launch figures serves as a critical signal regarding player reception and the effectiveness of the game's initial offerings.

Conclusion and Implications

The layoffs at Wildlight Entertainment represent a significant development for the studio and the game Highguard. The company has confirmed that a majority of its development staff have been let go, a move directly linked to the steep decline in player numbers following the game's January 26th release. Despite these reductions, Wildlight has stated its intention to continue supporting Highguard with a smaller, core development team.

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The immediate implication is a period of uncertainty regarding the future content roadmap and the overall trajectory of the game. While the commitment to support is present, the reduction in human resources will undoubtedly influence the studio's capacity to deliver on its initial promises. The initial player surge, while notable, was not sustained, leading to a situation common in the competitive live-service genre. How the retained team navigates development and community engagement in the wake of these cuts will be crucial for Highguard's longevity.

Key Findings:

  • Mass Layoffs: A significant portion of Wildlight Entertainment's staff, involved in Highguard's development, has been laid off.

  • Continued Support: A "core group" of developers will remain to support and update Highguard.

  • Player Decline: The game experienced a sharp drop in player numbers shortly after a strong launch peak.

  • Uncertain Future: The impact of the layoffs on the game's ambitious roadmap remains unclear.

Sources

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why did Wildlight Entertainment let workers go?
The game Highguard did not keep many players after it first came out. This caused the company to reduce its staff.
Q: Will the game Highguard be shut down?
No, the game will not be shut down. A small group of workers will stay to keep making the game better.
Q: Was Highguard popular when it launched?
Yes, many people played Highguard when it first came out. But, the number of players went down quickly after that.
Q: How many workers were let go?
The company did not say the exact number. But it was a large part of the team that made Highguard.