Is Highguard shutting down? Official website goes dark
Wildlight Entertainment's free-to-play shooter may be facing shutdown after its official website went dark Monday morning. The site outage follows mass layoffs and a catastrophic player exodus just weeks after launch.
The official website for free-to-play shooter Highguard is down, displaying a 'currently unavailable' message that has sparked fears the troubled game may be shutting down. The site outage comes weeks after mass layoffs hit developer Wildlight Entertainment following the game's disastrous launch in January.
Website replaced with static page
As of Monday morning, PlayHighguard.com shows only a simple page featuring the game's logo and the message 'This site is currently unavailable'. Below the message is a support email address for inquiries about the downed site. The website has reportedly been inaccessible since at least 7.50am EST, according to reports from gaming content creators.
Troubled launch and rapid decline
Highguard was announced as a surprise reveal at the 2025 Game Awards in December, but the free-to-play raid shooter faced immediate backlash from viewers who criticised it as generic. The negative reception continued through the game's January 2026 launch, despite initially attracting over 90,000 concurrent players on Steam.
Within 48 hours of launch, the game had lost nearly all its player base. Subsequent updates, including a 5v5 mode, failed to bring players back or stabilise the declining numbers.
Mass layoffs followed launch failure
The player exodus was followed by significant layoffs at Wildlight Entertainment, with reports indicating most of the development team was let go. The layoffs are part of a broader pattern affecting the games industry, with similar cuts at other studios following failed live-service launches.
The website outage has intensified speculation that Highguard may be heading for a complete shutdown, though no official announcement has been made by the publisher or remaining staff at Wildlight Entertainment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the game Highguard shutting down?
The official website is currently down showing 'unavailable' message, but no official shutdown announcement has been made by Wildlight Entertainment.
What happened to Highguard?
Highguard lost nearly all 90,000 Steam players within 48 hours of its January launch, followed by mass layoffs at developer Wildlight Entertainment.
When was Highguard announced?
Highguard was announced at the 2025 Game Awards in December as a surprise reveal, launching just one month later in January 2026.
Can I still play Highguard?
Players with existing installations may still be able to access the game, though server status is unclear with the website down.
What type of game is Highguard?
Highguard is a free-to-play raid shooter that was available on PC through Steam and featured both PvP and PvE modes.
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