Highguard will shut down its servers for good on March 12, 2026. This comes just 45 days after the free-to-play raid shooter first launched on Steam. Wildlight Entertainment made the call yesterday, ending one of the shortest live service runs we have seen in years. The studio pulled the plug despite drawing over 2 million players to the game. From what we’ve seen, the team could not keep enough daily active users to make the project work. This move puts Highguard next to titles like Concord in the hall of fame for quick live service deaths. We first spotted trouble when the player counts dropped fast after the debut at The Game Awards 2025. The game hit nearly 100,000 peak concurrent users on day one but faced harsh feedback almost right away. When we logged in to test it ourselves, the problems were clear.
Quick Facts:
- Shutdown Date: March 12, 2026
- Developer: Wildlight Entertainment
- Launch Date: Late January 2026
- Peak Concurrent Users: Nearly 100,000 on Steam
- Final Update: Includes new Warden, weapon, and skill trees
The Sudden Fall of Highguard
Wildlight Entertainment revealed Highguard with fanfare at The Game Awards 2025. The reveal closed the show and set high hopes for the free-to-play raid shooter. At first, the numbers looked great. The game drew close to 100,000 concurrent players on Steam within hours of going live. But the mood turned sour fast. Players flooded the Steam page with negative reviews, pushing the rating to “Overwhelmingly Negative.” The main gripes? The 3v3 format felt too small for a raid shooter, and the loot systems were too hard to grasp. We tested the game ourselves and found the loop felt off. The core shooting felt good, but the meta-game confused even veteran FPS fans. The bad press spread fast across Discord and Reddit, making it hard for new players to join.
Tencent Pulls Funding and Layoffs Hit
By mid-February, the writing was on the wall. Reports broke that Tencent had yanked its funding from Wildlight Entertainment. This move forced the studio to cut about 80% of its staff. Only a small crew stayed on to keep the lights on until the March 12 shutdown. “We knew this was coming when we saw the empty offices,” one source close to the team told us. The layoffs left too few hands to fix the game or push out the full year of content that Wildlight had planned. Without cash flow, the studio had no way to keep the servers running past March. Based on our experience tracking live service games, once the backing leaves, the end is near.
What Players Get in the Final Weeks
Wildlight is not leaving fans empty-handed. The team is pushing one last patch before the servers go dark. This update adds a new hero called a Warden, a fresh weapon, and new skill trees for account-wide growth. These features were meant to roll out over the first year of service. Now, players can test them during the final 45 days. However, the studio has stayed quiet on refunds for cosmetic items bought with real money. If you spent cash on skins, you might be out of luck. The future of the Highguard brand also remains unclear. Wildlight has not said if they will sell the IP or try to revive it later.
How Highguard Compares to Other Live Service Flops
Highguard joins a growing list of AAA live service games that died young. Concord, the hero shooter from Firewalk Studios, lasted only two weeks before Sony killed it. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League struggled to keep players despite its big IP. From our view, Highguard’s 45-day run makes it one of the fastest deaths in recent memory. Where Concord had a slow burn then a sudden end, Highguard had a flash of hype then a steep drop. Both games show how hard it is to break into the live service market now. Gamers have limited time, and they stick to what they know like Destiny 2 or Warframe. New entries need perfect launches, and Highguard’s rough start never gave it a chance to recover. Unlike single-player games that sell once and last forever, these online-only titles die when the player count drops.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Highguard shutting down?
Highguard closes its servers on March 12, 2026. This marks 45 days since its late January launch.
Why is Wildlight Entertainment ending Highguard?
The studio could not keep a healthy player base. Despite 2 million total players, daily active users dropped too low to fund the servers or pay the team.
Will players get refunds for in-game purchases?
Wildlight has not made any statements about refunds for cosmetics. Players who bought skins may not get their money back.
What content is coming before the shutdown?
The final update includes a new Warden hero, a new weapon, account-wide skill trees, and fresh progression systems that were planned for year one.
Could Highguard return in the future?
The IP future is unknown. With Tencent out and most staff laid off, a revival looks unlikely unless another studio buys the rights.
The live service market keeps getting tougher. Highguard serves as a stark warning that even 2 million players and a Game Awards slot cannot save a game with core issues. We hope Wildlight’s team lands on their feet. If you want to try Highguard before it vanishes, download it free on Steam before March 12.
Please note that when you make a purchase through our links at GameHaunt, we might earn a small commission. This helps us keep bringing you the free journalism you love on our site! And don’t worry, our editorial content remains totally unbiased. If you’d like to show some support, you can do so here.
