Highguard's Developer Wildlight Entertainment Layoffs: A Look at the Recent Job Cuts
The gaming industry is experiencing a wave of layoffs, and Highguard, a new multiplayer shooter, is not immune to this trend. Just over two weeks after its launch, the game's developer, Wildlight Entertainment, has reportedly laid off 'most' of its staff, according to affected staffers on LinkedIn. This decision comes as a surprise to many, given the game's splashy reveal at The Game Awards and its initial success on Steam.
Alex Graner, a former level designer at Wildlight, confirmed the layoffs on LinkedIn, stating that 'most of the team at Wildlight' was let go. This news was further supported by Josh Sobel, a former lead tech artist, who also shared his experience. Wildlight's statement acknowledges the difficult decision, emphasizing the need to keep a core group of developers to innovate and support the game.
Highguard's journey began with a grand reveal at The Game Awards in December, with a trailer promoting a January 26th launch date. The game reportedly attracted nearly 100,000 concurrent players on Steam on launch day, but it has since faced challenges. As of this writing, Highguard has a 'Mixed' rating on Steam and currently has just over 2,400 concurrent players, according to SteamDB. The game initially launched with three-player teams, but a limited-time 5v5 mode was added and later made permanent.
This wave of layoffs is not an isolated incident. Riot Games also recently made cuts on a major live service project, laying off about 80 people from its 2XKO fighting game, set in the League of Legends universe. These developments raise questions about the sustainability of game development in the current market and the impact of such decisions on the industry's future.
As the gaming industry continues to evolve, it is crucial to stay informed about these changes and their implications. Follow topics and authors from this story to receive updates and insights into the gaming industry's latest developments.
