Video game Highguard axed weeks after release

Source: BBC Technology

Highguard to shut down

Multiplayer shooter video game Highguard will “permanently shut down” just weeks after its release, its developer has announced.

Since its launch in January, the free‑to‑play game has struggled to retain players despite being made by a team of industry veterans who worked on successful titles such as Call of Duty, Apex Legends and Titanfall.

In a statement, developers Wildlight Entertainment announced the servers will halt on 12 March because they “have not been able to build a sustainable player base to support the game long term” (source).

The hero shooter was first announced in December at The Game Awards ceremony during the end‑of‑show preview slot, traditionally saved for games set to make a big splash. Some fans questioned whether the game would succeed, complaining that the trailer lacked a proper explanation of how the game worked. Despite being available on PC, PlayStation and Xbox, the numbers didn’t reach what developers expected.

Plummeting player numbers

• After its release on 26 January, the game attracted just under 100 000 players on PC and about 380 000 viewers on Twitch, according to data‑tracking site SteamDB.
• The decline continued, with only 3 600 concurrent PC users on the day Wildlight announced layoffs in February.
• On the day the shutdown was announced, the game peaked at 460 concurrent users, per SteamDB.

Following the news, some fans expressed disappointment, while others questioned the decision after developers had previously said they had a year’s worth of updates mapped out.

In the statement, developers asked fans to “jump in with us one more time to show your support and get those final great matches in while we still can.”

“From all of us at Wildlight, thank you for playing, for supporting us, and for being part of Highguard’s story.”