Highguard Layoffs 2026 Come Two Weeks After Launch
Highguard Layoffs 2026 Come Two Weeks After Launch
Wildlight Entertainment layoffs deepen after Highguard’s launch and player decline.
Highlights
- Wildlight Entertainment confirms layoffs weeks after Highguard’s Jan. 26, 2026, launch.
- Staff say “most of the team” was cut as the studio retains a core live service group.
- Player counts fell sharply post-launch despite a strong Steam debut peak.
Wildlight Entertainment has confirmed layoffs just over two weeks after releasing its debut free-to-play shooter, Highguard. The move marks one of the first game studio layoffs after the release in 2026. The Highguard developer layoffs emerged through LinkedIn posts from affected staff, including level designer, Alex Graner, who said “most of the team at Wildlight” had been laid off.
In a Feb 12 statement on X, the studio said it 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.” The Wildlight Entertainment layoffs leave a reduced team overseeing ongoing development and live service operations.
Highguard was launched on Jan 26, 2026, on PC and consoles after its reveal as the closing announcement at the December 2025 Game Awards (TGA). Developed by veterans from Apex Legends, Titanfall, and Call of Duty, the PvP raid shooter blends first-person shooter (FPS) combat with rideable mounts. It also features base-breach raid mechanics.
Highlights
Wildlight had outlined a year-long post-launch roadmap for the game. It recently released the second episode, adding new maps and items, and introduced a limited-time 5v5 mode that was later made permanent.
Highlights
Highguard Layoffs 2026 Follow Player Decline After Launch Peak
The title debuted strongly, reaching nearly 100K concurrent players on Steam. It also ranked among the top 20 weekly active titles on U.S. PlayStation and Xbox platforms, according to Circana.
Yet, SteamDB data later showed concurrency falling below 5K, with a “Mixed” rating across roughly 38K reviews, as of Feb. 12.
With more than 100 employees listed on LinkedIn before restructuring, the Highguard studio staff cuts significantly reduced the studio’s workforce.
More layoff confirmations also surfaced on LinkedIn, including former Lead Tech Artist Josh Sobel, who wrote, “Today I was laid off from my job at Wildlight along with most of the staff,” describing the project as one he had deeply invested in. His post circulated via reposts from other industry professionals, including former staff of Wildlight Entertainment.
The Highguard studio job losses come amid wider contraction across live service development, including Riot Games cutting around 80 roles on 2XKO.
The layoffs underscore mounting commercial pressure on new multiplayer live service launches competing with entrenched titles like Fortnite and Call of Duty. Sustaining early player retention is critical to long-term viability.
Author
Probaho Santra is a content writer at Outlook India with a master’s degree in journalism. Outside work, he enjoys photography, exploring new tech trends, and staying connected with the esports world.
