The gaming world has witnessed yet another live-service disappointment with the imminent shutdown of Highguard. This free-to-play shooter, developed by Wildlight Entertainment, is set to go offline on March 12th, less than two months after its launch.
Highguard's demise is a stark reminder of the challenges faced by live-service games in retaining a dedicated player base. Despite the developer's best efforts, the game failed to capture the hearts and minds of gamers, with its player count rapidly dwindling after an initial surge.
But here's where it gets controversial: Wildlight's decision to announce Highguard at The Game Awards 2025, instead of a surprise launch like Apex Legends, may have been a crucial misstep. The game's rocky reveal and subsequent silence from the developer left many players unsure about its potential.
And this is the part most people miss: the player count charts on SteamDB, while not a perfect indicator, offer a glimpse into the game's popularity. Highguard's playerbase on Steam peaked at just over 15,000 during its first weekend, and then rapidly declined.
Wildlight tried to address player complaints by adding new modes and features, such as a 5v5 mode and unique heroes, but to no avail. The game's complex blend of ideas, including FPS elements, base fortifications, and resource gathering, created an awkward pacing issue, as our reviewer, Ford James, pointed out.
The financial troubles that led to Wildlight laying off most of its team just two weeks after launch are a sad testament to the game's struggles. According to a Bloomberg report, Tencent, the game's financial backer, pulled its funding due to the developer's failure to meet retention rate metrics.
So, what went wrong with Highguard? Was it the risky decision to announce the game at The Game Awards? Or was it the game's ambitious blend of ideas that ultimately led to its downfall? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments. Don't be shy - let's discuss and learn from this live-service failure!
