Highguard Developer Responds to Shutdown Rumours After Website Outage

A developer at Wildlight Entertainment has addressed growing concerns that Highguard may be heading toward a shutdown, following the sudden outage of the game’s official website. Despite ongoing speculation, the studio insists the disruption does not signal the end of the free-to-play PvP raid shooter.

According to a developer statement, the website went offline because the team is transferring and simplifying it. However, the studio currently considers the task a low priority, as developers remain focused on delivering updates and new content for the game.

From Game Awards Spotlight to Community Backlash

Highguard first drew major attention when it closed out last year’s Game Awards ceremony in the coveted “one last thing” slot. The reveal surprised viewers, especially given the presence of other high-profile announcements during the show. Reports later suggested that host Geoff Keighley personally supported the trailer’s placement.

Initially, that exposure translated into strong numbers. When Highguard launched in January for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, it peaked at nearly 100,000 concurrent players on Steam. However, the momentum proved short-lived. Within days, the game reportedly lost around 80% of its player base, fueling doubts about its long-term viability.

Player Count Drops and Layoffs Raise Concerns

The website outage intensified speculation. Some players predicted an imminent end-of-service announcement, while others feared server closures could follow. Nevertheless, Wildlight has not announced any shutdown plans.

At the same time, the studio confirmed recent layoffs affecting much of the Highguard team. Wildlight stated it would retain a core group of developers to continue supporting and evolving the title. The company did not directly address the declining player count or the game’s mixed reviews in its statement.

On Steam, Highguard currently holds a “mixed” rating, an improvement from its “mostly negative” launch reception. Many players criticized the original 3v3 mode for feeling slow on large maps. In response, Wildlight introduced a permanent 5v5 mode. Even so, Steam player averages now hover between 1,000 and 2,000 concurrent users daily. Performance figures for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S remain undisclosed.

For now, Highguard remains online, and its developers appear committed to further updates. Whether that effort will be enough to rebuild player confidence remains to be seen.

You can check out the official website here.