Highguard Shuts Down: Final Days This Month
▼ Summary
– The free-to-play live-service squad shooter Highguard is shutting down permanently on March 12th, less than two months after its January 26th launch.
– The developer, Wildlight Entertainment, stated the shutdown is due to an unsustainable player base despite the game reaching 2 million players.
– Before the shutdown, the game will receive a final update adding a new character and weapon.
– This rapid closure reflects a growing trend, exemplified by Sony’s quick shutdown of Concord and layoffs at Riot’s 2XKO shortly after launch.
– The live-service gaming market is extremely difficult to break into, with few recent successes, as publishers chase the massive success of hits like Fortnite.
The live-service gaming market faces another high-profile closure as Highguard, the free-to-play squad shooter, will permanently shut down on March 12th. This decision arrives less than two months after its late January launch, marking a remarkably short lifespan despite the game reportedly attracting over two million players. Developer Wildlight Entertainment stated the team’s passion and effort ultimately could not establish the sustainable player base necessary for long-term viability. In its final days, the game will receive one last update introducing a new character and weapon, offering a final experience before servers go dark.
This abrupt shutdown reflects a troubling pattern within the industry, where the window for live-service success appears to be shrinking dramatically. Sony’s Concord met a famously swift demise, closing just weeks after launch despite a lengthy eight-year development cycle. Similarly, Riot’s fighting game 2XKO faced significant layoffs within its development team shortly following its release, signaling potential instability. These cases underscore the immense pressure on studios to capture and retain a massive audience from the outset.
Publishers and developers are relentlessly pursuing the lucrative revenue models exemplified by enduring titles like Fortnite. Yet the market proves brutally difficult to penetrate, with breakout hits like Arc Raiders remaining exceptional. The challenge is so daunting that even studios renowned for single-player narratives, such as Alan Wake creator Remedy Entertainment, have ventured into live-service projects with mixed outcomes. The closure of Highguard serves as a stark reminder that player interest and financial sustainability are elusive goals, with the path to a lasting live-service game growing ever more precarious.
(Source: The Verge)
