Highguard: Recent Developments in Wildlight Entertainment
Highguard, a new multiplayer shooter developed by Wildlight Entertainment, has been making headlines since its launch just over two weeks ago. With a talented team featuring ex-developers from renowned franchises like Apex Legends and Call of Duty, expectations were high. However, the company has recently faced turmoil, leading to significant job cuts.
Job Layoffs at Wildlight Entertainment
Reports from former staffers indicate that the majority of the team at Wildlight has been laid off. Alex Graner, a former level designer, confirmed this disturbing news, and former lead tech artist Josh Sobel corroborated the claims. This abrupt decision has raised questions about the future of Highguard and the remaining team’s capacity to support and innovate on the game.
Official Statement from Wildlight
In response to the layoffs, Wildlight issued a statement saying, “Today we made an incredibly difficult decision to part ways with a number of our team members while keeping a core group of developers to continue innovating on and supporting the game.” The company expressed pride in the product and gratitude towards players who have engaged with the game and its community.
Industry Trends: Layoffs in Gaming
This trend of workforce reductions is not isolated to Wildlight. Just this week, Riot Games also announced significant layoffs, affecting around 80 employees from its latest live service project, the 2XKO fighting game set in the League of Legends universe. These layoffs highlight a troubling pattern in the gaming industry, where even well-established companies are facing challenges post-launch.
Conclusion
The situation at Wildlight underscores some of the precarities in the gaming landscape, particularly for new titles that may struggle to capture player engagement amidst fierce competition. As the remaining team focuses on Highguard’s future, the industry watches closely to see how developments will unfold.
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