The Rise and Fall of Highguard: A Deep Dive into the Failed Game by Wildlight

In the highly competitive world of game development, the story of Highguard, a game created by former Apex Legends developers at Wildlight, is a cautionary tale of ambition, financial struggles, and ultimately, failure. Despite the pedigree of its creators and reported funding from Tencent, Highguard failed to make a mark in the gaming industry, leaving many to wonder what went wrong.

The origins of Highguard can be traced back to 2021 when a group of developers from Respawn Entertainment decided to break away and form their own studio, Wildlight. The decision was driven in part by a desire for creative freedom but was also fueled by a sense that they were not receiving their fair share of the profits generated by Apex Legends, the hugely successful game they had worked on previously.

As development on Highguard progressed, it became clear that the game was too ambitious in scope. In January 2024, the team made the decision to streamline the project, focusing on creating a more refined and cohesive experience. There were plans to expand the game with single-player stories set in the same universe, positioning Highguard as a foundation for future growth.

Testing revealed a crucial flaw in Highguard – the game was only truly enjoyable with voice chat enabled. Despite this feedback, management at Wildlight resisted the idea of promoting the game through community-building efforts, opting instead to replicate the surprise launch strategy that had worked for Apex Legends. This decision would later prove to be a misstep.

While initial reception to Highguard was positive, morale within the Wildlight team began to wane as the game approached launch. Concerns were raised about the decision to forego a traditional marketing campaign in favor of a surprise release. Ultimately, the launch faltered, and financial difficulties soon followed.

By mid-February, Wildlight announced layoffs due to a lack of funds, leading many to question the sustainability of Highguard. Former staffers attributed the game’s failure to the hubris of leadership, who believed they could replicate the success of Apex Legends without facing the same challenges.

Today, less than 20 developers remain at Wildlight, working to salvage Highguard with the introduction of a new game mode. However, in the competitive landscape of live service games, the future of Highguard remains uncertain with a small team working on its development.

The story of Highguard serves as a reminder of the complex nature of game development, where talent and funding are not always enough to guarantee success. As former employees move on and those remaining continue to work on the game, the legacy of Highguard will be a cautionary tale for future developers in the industry.