Highguard, a free-to-play squad shooter, is shutting down this month, just two months after its launch. This news comes as a shock to many, as the game had reached 2 million players. But here's where it gets controversial: despite the game's initial success, developer Wildlight Entertainment has announced that Highguard will be permanently shut down on March 12th. The studio cited the inability to build a sustainable player base as the primary reason for the closure.
This abrupt end for Highguard is not an isolated incident. The live-service gaming space is becoming increasingly challenging to navigate, with many publishers and developers chasing the success of games like Fortnite. However, the reality is that breaking into this space is incredibly difficult, and even single-player-focused studios have struggled to make the transition to live-service releases. Sony, for example, shut down the sci-fi shooter Concord within weeks of its launch, despite the game having been in development for eight years.
The live-service chase doesn't seem to be slowing down anytime soon, even after Sony cut back on its live-service game ambitions. The company is still behind upcoming games like Marathon and a co-op Horizon spinoff. But the question remains: is the live-service gaming space becoming a victim of its own success, or is it simply too difficult to break into?
What do you think? Do you agree or disagree with the decision to shut down Highguard? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
