Highguard, the ambitious but highly controversial free-to-play hero shooter from Wildlight Entertainment, is officially closing its servers and shutting down for good on March 12, 2026. In a heartfelt announcement shared on the official Highguard X account, Wildlight thanked the community for its support since launch, revealed plans for one final update, and urged players to jump back in to enjoy the game before its legacy comes to a close.
The shutdown marks an exceedingly rapid end to a live-service title that debuted less than two months ago, and initially won over millions of players despite facing plenty of resistance on what seemed to be all sides. Even after attracting more than 2 million players over the course of its life, some of whom believed it could become something great, Wildlight said it was "not able to build a sustainable player base" to support Highguard long term, prompting the understandably difficult decision to sunset the project.
Highguard was first revealed in late 2025 as The Game Awards' "one last thing," a highly coveted showcase slot typically reserved for major new games, beloved franchises, and titles from seasoned, well-known developers. Developed by Wildlight, a studio founded by veterans...
