Highguard Developer Wildlight Entertainment's Recent Layoffs: A Troubling Turn of Events
The gaming industry is abuzz with news of Wildlight Entertainment's recent layoffs, affecting a significant portion of the Highguard team. Former level designer Alex Graner, in a heartfelt LinkedIn post, revealed his layoff, expressing disappointment over the cancellation of much-anticipated content. This development comes just weeks after the release of Highguard, a free-to-play raid shooter, on January 26th.
Graner's post highlights the emotional impact of the layoffs, emphasizing the unfinished work and the potential loss of innovative game features. The industry's history of sudden disruptions due to layoffs adds a layer of complexity to this situation. Highguard's journey began with a less-than-enthusiastic reception at The Game Awards 2025, where it was unveiled as the final 'world premiere'. Despite the initial challenges, Wildlight Entertainment released the game on multiple platforms, including PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
Game Informer Editor-in-Chief Matt Miller praised Highguard as a promising contender in his review, and the game recently received positive updates, including Episode 2, which introduced a ranked mode, a new hero, and additional maps. However, the recent layoffs have cast a shadow over the project, leaving fans and industry observers curious about the future of Highguard and the fate of its dedicated team.
As the situation unfolds, Game Informer is actively seeking more information from Wildlight Entertainment, aiming to provide updates on the extent of the layoffs and the game's future. The gaming community eagerly awaits further developments, hoping for a resolution to this troubling turn of events.
