Why is Highguard shutting down? Player count drop, studio statement & more
(Courtesy : Wildlight Entertainment)
The game is shutting down on March 12, 2026
Just over a month after the launch, Highguard is now officially shutting down. The developer, Wildlight Entertainment, has confirmed the game’s server will go offline starting from March 12, 2026.
In the official statement released on X, the studio has confirmed that they have made the difficult decision. “Since launch, more than two million players stepped into Highguard’s world. Despite the passion and hard work of our team, we have not been able to build a sustainable player base to support the game long term,” the team wrote. Let’s check out more details in this article.
Difficult journey from start to finish for Highguard
There is no doubt that this game had its difficulties since the reveal at The Game Awards 2025. A large number of negative reviews and reactions from the viewers and gamers.
On the one hand, the team, in a conversation with host Geoff Keighley, said it was going to be a surprise launch but settled on a trailer debut instead.
When the game was launched on Steam as free-to-play, it initially had a huge numbers, peaking at nearly 98,000 cocurrent players only on Steam, not counting the console playerbase as well.
However, due to performance issues and controversial design decisions, it led to an “Overwhelmingly Negative” rating from users.
Since the next day itself, it has been showing a sharp decline in players on a daily basis. Currently, it struggles to even cross 800 players on Steam.
Funding concerns and layoffs
Although this game was initially described as self-financed, later reports suggested that it was backed by TiMi Studio Group, a subsidiary of Tencent.
The funding was pulled after the performance targets were not met, which led to many layoffs in Wildlight Entertainment.
Highguard’s final update before shutting down
Before shutting down, the developers are releasing one final update. This patch will introduce a new Warden, a fresh new weapon, expanded skill trees and account level-progression.
The developers have asked the fans to participate and join one final time, before it finally closes on March 12, 2026.
FAQs
When is Highguard shutting down?
The servers will permanently go offline on March 12, 2026.
Why is Highguard closing?
Wildlight stated that the game was unable to build a sustainable player base to support long-term operations.
Will there be any final updates before shutdown?
Yes, a final update is being released, adding a new Warden, weapon, skill trees, and account progression improvements.
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Mahaksh Chauhan is a passionate gaming journalist who loves for old-school RPGs and turn-based games. With a keen eye for storytelling and a deep understanding of game mechanics, Mahaksh brings an unique perspective to the world of gaming. Inspired by classics like Persona, Red Dead Redemption 2, and Skyrim, Mahaksh is dedicated in sharing the magic of games with readers. When not writing or gaming, Mahaksh can be found cheering on WWE superstars or watching his favourite Anime.