adminWildlight Entertainment layoffs have reportedly reduced the Highguard developer’s team to fewer than 20 people. The reported cuts followed a difficult launch for the free-to-play shooter, which initially attracted a large audience before its player numbers fell sharply. The studio has not publicly confirmed the reported remaining headcount in the information available here.
What is reported about the Wildlight Entertainment layoffs?
Former employees said an all-hands meeting took place on February 11. During the meeting, staff were allegedly told that the studio was out of money and that most of its roughly 100-person team would be laid off. The report says fewer than 20 employees remained after the cuts.
These details come from former staff accounts, so they should be understood as reported claims rather than a public staffing statement from Wildlight. For readers following the studio, the distinction matters: the reported number describes the situation after the layoffs, but does not establish the team’s current size.
How Highguard’s launch performed
Highguard launched on January 26. It reached nearly 100,000 concurrent players on Steam at its peak, with similar numbers reported on consoles. About a week after release, the game had lost roughly 90% of its players, according to the report.
Concurrent-player figures show how many people are playing at the same time, not the total number of people who have tried a game. They can still offer a useful indication of early engagement, but they do not explain on their own why players leave or whether a game can retain a lasting audience.
Funding and reported expectations
Wildlight Entertainment was founded in 2023 as a fully funded studio. Tencent subsidiary TiMi Studio Group was reportedly its lead financial backer. Wildlight CEO and co-founder Dusty Welch had previously described the developer as an independent studio without the support of a large organization.
Former employees reportedly believed that continued financing depended on meeting certain metrics, including player retention. They said those targets were not met. Welch and Tencent declined to comment on the report, so the specific funding terms and performance expectations have not been publicly confirmed.
Why the launch strategy is being questioned
Former developers said studio leadership hoped to repeat elements of Apex Legends’ successful surprise launch, despite changes in the gaming market since that game debuted. Apex Legends launched on the day it was announced in 2019. Welch had previously served as its COO and general manager.
Developers also said tester feedback was mostly positive, while acknowledging that the testing process may have had blind spots. A suggestion to release Highguard in early access was reportedly rejected in favor of a surprise launch. This account highlights why testing feedback and launch plans are not guarantees of strong public reception: players outside a test group may respond differently once a game is widely available.
Image credit: Wildlight Entertainment
What the reported cuts mean for Highguard
The reported Wildlight Entertainment layoffs raise questions about the studio’s capacity to support Highguard after launch. However, the available details do not confirm what updates, if any, are planned or how long support will continue. Players should look for direct announcements from the developer before drawing conclusions about the game’s future.
In summary, Wildlight Entertainment layoffs reportedly followed Highguard’s sharp decline in concurrent players and concerns about funding and retention. The reported figures provide context for the studio’s situation, but they do not replace an official update from Wildlight.
