UPDATE: Highguard Developer Wildlight Leisure Confirms Layoffs At The Studio

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 workers members started sharing information on-line that that they had been let go.  It didn’t state what number of staff are affected, however this information comes after stage designer Alex Graner introduced he and “many of the staff” have been laid off, which you’ll learn within the unique model of this story under.

Wildlight additionally states {that a} “core group” of staff members will proceed to assist Highguard, although it has not acknowledged how the rollout of its content material roadmap will probably be affected.

Wildlight’s assertion reads as follows: 

At the moment we made an extremely troublesome choice to half methods with quite a few our staff members whereas protecting a core group of builders to proceed innovating on and supporting the sport.

We’re happy with the staff, 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.

Authentic 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, many of the staff has reportedly been laid off. That is in line with former Highguard stage designer Alex Graner, who posted on LinkedIn right now, stating, “Sadly, together with many of the staff at Wildlight, I used to be laid off right now.” 

In Graner’s put up, he says this layoff “actually stings as there was a variety 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 appears like that content material would possibly by no means be launched, which might be stunning however not unprecedented on this business, which has been below fixed disruption on account of layoffs. 

Highguard has been climbing a steep hill since its reveal as the ultimate “world premiere” at The Recreation Awards 2025 again in December. Its reveal did not go over properly with audiences, possible on account of its placement because the closing spot through the awards ceremony and its difficult-to-parse fashion of FPS. Nonetheless, Wildlight launched the sport free of charge on PlayStation 5, Xbox Sequence X/S, and PC on January 26. 

Recreation Informer Editor-in-Chief Matt Miller referred to as it a promising contender in his Highguard evaluation. Simply final week, Recreation Informer lined the information of Highguard’s Episode 2 content material drop, which added a ranked mode, a brand new hero, one other map, and extra. 

Recreation Informer has reached out to Wildlight Leisure to be taught extra concerning the layoffs Graner is referencing, what number of staff members have been laid off, and extra. This story will probably be up to date if we be taught extra.