Highguard Developer Faces Layoffs After Launch

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Less than a month after the launch of its PvP raid shooter Highguard, game developer Wildlight Entertainment is facing layoffs, with reports from former employees indicating that "most of the team" has been let go. The news, first surfacing on LinkedIn, raises questions about the sustainability of the current indie game development model, particularly for ambitious, community-focused projects.

Why it matters

The timing of these layoffs is especially striking, coming shortly after Highguard's game director Chad Grenier publicly stated that the game's player count "doesn't matter," as long as those who do play it love the experience. This sentiment clashes with the financial realities of game development, where a critical mass of players is required to generate revenue and sustain ongoing support.

The details

Wildlight Entertainment, founded by Grenier and Dusty Welch, consists of roughly 100 employees, many of whom previously worked on Apex Legends at Respawn Entertainment. The studio's creation during the pandemic signaled a new wave of independent development, fueled by experienced talent. However, the Highguard launch demonstrated the challenges of building an audience from scratch, even with a pedigree from a successful title like Apex Legends.

• Highguard launched less than a month ago.
• The layoffs were first reported on LinkedIn by former Wildlight employees.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The future of Highguard and Wildlight Entertainment remains uncertain, as the studio navigates the challenges of building a sustainable indie game business.