Highguard Shutting Down Just Six Weeks After Launch

Wildlight Entertainment

Free-to-play shooter Highguard is officially shutting down a little over a month after release, developer Wildlight Entertainment has confirmed.

The studio announced that Highguard’s servers will go offline permanently on March 12, bringing a sudden end to the multiplayer title that debuted on January 26 following its splashy reveal at The Game Awards 2025.

Highguard Final Update Coming Before Servers Go Offline

In a statement shared on social media, Wildlight said it had “made the decision to permanently shut down Highguard” after failing to build a sustainable player base.

Despite attracting more than 2 million players at launch, engagement reportedly dropped sharply in the weeks that followed. Servers will remain online until March 12, giving fans a final window to jump back in.

Before that happens, the team is releasing one last update that includes:

• A new Warden

• A new weapon

• Account level progression

• Skill trees

• Full patch notes to follow

Wildlight described the update as a final thank-you to the community that supported the game during its brief lifespan.

A Fast Rise and a Faster Fall

Highguard wrapped up December’s Game Awards with a big announcement. Created by experts in the hero shooter scene, the game mixed classic FPS action with rideable mounts and raid-style base attacks, making it stand out from typical arena shooters. But things didn’t keep rolling.

Last month, news came out that a lot of the development team had been let go. Wildlight later confirmed they had downsized but kept a smaller core team. Bloomberg reported that Tencent had backed the studio but withdrew support after the game’s soft launch didn’t go as planned.

Highguard had reportedly been in development for several years, with a year’s worth of post-launch content already planned prior to the shutdown decision.

Highguard's closure demonstrates how difficult it is for new live-service games to survive in a market dominated by established titans such as Fortnite and Call of Duty.

With players already invested in long-running ecosystems, even well-funded and creatively ambitious shooters face a difficult challenge. For Highguard, a strong debut and millions of early players were insufficient to ensure longevity.

Servers shut down on March 12. Until then, players have one last chance to drop in.