Highguard’s official website unexpectedly going offline triggered immediate concern across the community, with many players fearing the free-to-play raid shooter was preparing to shut down.
Social media discussions and forum posts quickly escalated the situation, predicting a potential end-of-service announcement and even suggesting that game servers could soon follow. The sudden disappearance of the site created uncertainty at a time when the title is already facing declining player numbers and mixed reception.
Developer says outage is part of a website transfer
A developer from Wildlight responded to the speculation, clarifying that the outage is not tied to a shutdown. According to the studio, the website is currently being transferred and simplified, with the change described as a low-priority task compared to ongoing development work.
The team emphasized that its main focus remains on delivering updates and new content rather than maintaining a complex web presence, suggesting that Highguard is still actively supported despite community fears.
A high-profile reveal followed by a steep decline
Highguard originally debuted in a prominent final reveal slot during a major awards showcase, briefly drawing significant attention. The exposure translated into a strong launch window, with the game nearing 100,000 concurrent players on Steam shortly after release.
However, that momentum faded quickly. Reports indicate the player base dropped by roughly 80 percent within days, and user reviews shifted from mostly negative toward a mixed overall rating.
Current activity levels appear far lower, with daily peaks estimated around 1,000 to 2,000 concurrent players on Steam. Performance on console platforms has not been publicly detailed, leaving the broader player picture unclear.
Layoffs and uncertain long-term support
Less than a month after launch, Wildlight reduced staff numbers while keeping a smaller core team in place to continue development. This restructuring has raised additional questions about the scale and frequency of future updates.
Although the studio has implemented gameplay adjustments—such as introducing a permanent 5v5 mode in response to criticism that the original 3v3 format felt too slow for the map size—player retention has remained weak.
What the outage really means for Highguard
The temporary disappearance of Highguard’s website created the impression of an imminent shutdown, but developer statements and continued game support indicate the project is still operational.
That said, shrinking player numbers, mixed reception, and a reduced development team leave the title’s long-term future uncertain. For now, Highguard remains active—but its trajectory will likely depend on whether upcoming updates can rebuild momentum and restore player confidence.
