Replace 7:56 p.m. ET: Highguard developer Wildlight Leisure has launched an official assertion on social media confirming the layoffs on the studio after a number of employees members started sharing information on-line that they’d been let go. It didn’t state what number of workers are affected, however this information comes after stage designer Alex Graner introduced he and “a lot of the group” had been laid off, which you’ll learn within the unique model of this story under.
Wildlight additionally states {that a} “core group” of group members will proceed to help Highguard, although it has not acknowledged how the rollout of its content material roadmap shall be affected.
Wildlight’s assertion reads as follows:
In the present day we made an extremely troublesome choice to half methods with a variety of our group members whereas retaining a core group of builders to proceed innovating on and supporting the sport.
We’re pleased with the group, expertise, and the product we have created collectively. We’re additionally grateful for gamers who gave the sport a shot, and those that proceed to be part of our neighborhood.
Unique Story: Developer Wildlight Leisure launched its free-to-play raid shooter, Highguard, final month, on January 26, to blended outcomes. Now, only a few weeks after the sport’s launch, a lot of the group has reportedly been laid off. That is in line with former Highguard stage designer Alex Graner, who posted on LinkedIn as we speak, stating, “Sadly, together with a lot of the group at Wildlight, I used to be laid off as we speak.”
In Graner’s put up, he says this layoff “actually stings as there was plenty of unreleased content material I used to be actually wanting ahead to that I and others designed for Highguard.” If we take his phrases actually, it feels like that content material may by no means be launched, which might be stunning however not unprecedented on this trade, which has been underneath fixed disruption because of layoffs.
Highguard has been climbing a steep hill since its reveal as the ultimate “world premiere” at The Sport Awards 2025 again in December. Its reveal did not go over effectively with audiences, seemingly because of its placement because the closing spot in the course of the awards ceremony and its difficult-to-parse model of FPS. Nonetheless, Wildlight launched the sport at no cost on PlayStation 5, Xbox Collection X/S, and PC on January 26.
Sport Informer Editor-in-Chief Matt Miller known as it a promising contender in his Highguard evaluate. Simply final week, Sport Informer coated the information of Highguard’s Episode 2 content material drop, which added a ranked mode, a brand new hero, one other map, and extra.
Sport Informer has reached out to Wildlight Leisure to study extra in regards to the layoffs Graner is referencing, what number of group members had been laid off, and extra. This story shall be up to date if we study extra.
