Just sixteen days after its launch, the team behind the online multiplayer game Highguard has undergone significant layoffs. According to a statement from the studio, Wildlight, “most” of its staff have been let go. The news comes after the game’s lead designer, Mohammad Alavi, stated in a group interview transcribed by PC Gamer, “We don’t need to have a large number of players to be successful. We are a small team.”
Downsizing at Wildlight
The cuts at Wildlight impacted multiple departments, including sound design, technical art, and game design, according to level designer Alex Graner. This news follows a period of initial excitement surrounding Highguard, a title that garnered attention from industry figure Geoff Keighley. The studio released a statement acknowledging the difficult decision, saying, “Today, we have made the difficult decision to part ways with some team members while retaining a key team of developers to continue supporting the game. We are proud of our team, our talents, and the product we have created together. We are also grateful to the players who gave us a chance and those still active in our community.”
Wildlight indicated that We see not abandoning Highguard or shutting down its servers. However, the studio acknowledged that its previously announced roadmap for the next twelve months will likely be scaled back due to limited resources. The layoffs highlight the challenges faced by independent game developers in establishing a sustainable player base in a competitive market.
