History of Highguard in Timeline

Highguard was a free-to-play hero shooter video game developed by Wildlight Entertainment, released on January 26, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S. The game's life was short-lived, as Wildlight Entertainment announced its shutdown for March 12, 2026. Despite its brief availability, Highguard offered players a hero shooter experience on multiple platforms.

2022: Game Development Start

In 2022, development began on what would become Highguard, initially conceived as a survival-focused shooter similar to Rust.

February 2023: New AAA Title Announcement

In February 2023, the studio announced that it was working on a new AAA video game title that it had been in development on “for some time.”

January 2024: Project Refocus

In January 2024, Wildlight refocused the project, concentrating on competitive gameplay and raid-based aspects, abandoning survival mechanics. The team experimented with a 3v3 format.

December 11, 2025: Highguard Reveal at The Game Awards

On December 11, 2025, Highguard was revealed at The Game Awards, presented by Geoff Keighley as the show's final world-premiere reveal.

January 2026: Showcase and Launch

In January 2026, Wildlight Entertainment announced a showcase to debut gameplay on January 26, 2026, ahead of Highguard's launch. The game was released on January 26, 2026, and peaked at nearly 100,000 players before losing 90% of its player base in the first week.

January 26, 2026: Highguard Release

On January 26, 2026, Highguard, a free-to-play hero shooter video game developed and published by Wildlight Entertainment, was released for PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S.

PlayStation®5 Digital Edition (slim)

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February 2026: Tencent Funding Withdrawal and Layoffs

In February 2026, it was reported that Tencent had withdrawn its funding, leading to layoffs at Wildlight, with only a "core group" remaining to support Highguard's development.

February 2026: Undisclosed Financial Backer

In February 2026, it was reported that TiMi Studio Group, a subsidiary of Tencent, was the undisclosed primary financial backer of the game. This claim has not been substantiated.

March 12, 2026: Highguard Shutdown Announcement

On March 12, 2026, Wildlight Entertainment announced that Highguard would be shutting down.

2026: Game Plan and Updates

Throughout 2026, Wildlight revealed a "2026 Game Plan" outlining future content releases, and released an update that expanded Highguard to a 5v5 format in response to player criticism.