The future of Highguard, the recently released free-to-play raid shooter from Wildlight Entertainment, is suddenly in doubt after the game’s official website went offline without warning. Players who attempted to access the landing page were instead met with a static notice stating the site is unavailable, offering no explanation about the game’s status or future.
With no communication from the developer, the disappearance has intensified fears that the live-service title could be heading toward a permanent shutdown.
A Troubled Launch From the Start
Highguard’s path has been rocky since its first public reveal. The game debuted as a surprise announcement during the December 2025 awards season, but early reactions were mixed to negative. Many viewers questioned whether another online-only shooter could succeed in an already crowded market.
Despite skepticism, the title launched in January and initially showed signs of momentum. Concurrent player numbers briefly surged, suggesting the shooter might carve out a space among competing live-service games. That optimism proved short-lived.
Player Numbers Collapse Within Weeks
Within days of release, engagement dropped sharply. Reports indicate the game lost the overwhelming majority of its launch audience in a matter of weeks, falling from tens of thousands of concurrent players to only a small fraction by early February.
Wildlight attempted to stabilize the situation through balance updates and the addition of a new 5v5 mode, but these changes failed to reverse the decline. With a shrinking player base, sustaining revenue through cosmetics and microtransactions became increasingly difficult.
Layoffs Deepen Uncertainty
Concerns escalated further when Wildlight Entertainment confirmed significant layoffs on February 11, leaving only a reduced core team maintaining operations.
Combined with the now-missing website and continued silence across official channels, the layoffs have reinforced community fears that support for Highguard could end sooner rather than later.
A Familiar Pattern for Live-Service Shooters
Industry observers note that Highguard’s rapid decline mirrors a growing trend: ambitious multiplayer shooters launching with high expectations but failing to retain players long enough to remain financially viable.
When engagement drops too quickly, publishers often move toward shutdown decisions within months rather than years. The sudden disappearance of official web infrastructure is frequently viewed by players as an early warning sign of that process.
Player Concerns Shift to Purchases and Progress
For the remaining community, the biggest question is what happens next—especially regarding in-game purchases.
Because Highguard relies entirely on microtransactions for revenue, a shutdown could leave players uncertain about refunds or the long-term value of purchased cosmetics. Without official clarification, speculation continues to grow across community platforms.
Silence Leaves the Future Unclear
It remains possible the website outage is temporary or related to backend changes. However, the timing—coming after collapsing player numbers and studio layoffs—has made players wary of the worst-case scenario.
Until Wildlight Entertainment provides a clear statement, Highguard’s future remains uncertain, and the game now stands as another reminder of how fragile modern live-service launches can be.
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