Story perspectives

Highguard Faces Layoffs After Struggling Launch and Backing Loss

3/2/2026

Summary

Story summary

Highguard, a free-to-play PvP raid shooter, faced layoffs among developers after its launch.
Alex Graner, former Wildlight developer, said the game "leaned too far into the competitive scene," which deterred casual players.
The game's complex rules and team-based mechanics made success hinge on teamwork.
At launch, it peaked at 97,249 concurrent players.
Tencent reportedly pulled financial backing shortly after release, leaving fewer than 20 developers.

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Story summary

Highguard, a free-to-play PvP raid shooter, faced layoffs among developers after its launch.
Alex Graner, former Wildlight developer, said the game "leaned too far into the competitive scene," which deterred casual players.
The game's complex rules and team-based mechanics made success hinge on teamwork.
At launch, it peaked at 97,249 concurrent players.
Tencent reportedly pulled financial backing shortly after release, leaving fewer than 20 developers.