**Wildlight Studio Faces Layoffs After Highguard Release**
Wildlight, the studio behind the recently released shooter *Highguard*, has confirmed significant layoffs affecting an unspecified number of its staff. This decision comes shortly after former employees, including senior level designer Alex Graner, disclosed on LinkedIn that “most of the team” had been laid off.
Graner expressed his dismay in a post stating, “Unfortunately, along with most of the team at Wildlight, I was laid off today. This one really stings as there was a lot of unreleased content I was really looking forward to that I and others designed for *Highguard*.”
Other former Wildlight personnel, such as social and community lead Alex Ackerman, lead tech artist Josh Sobel, and lead producer Hunter Hudspeth, also confirmed their layoffs through social media. Hudspeth noted that “things are winding down at Wildlight,” highlighting the overall sentiment within the team.
In response to the layoffs, Wildlight released a statement on social media addressing the difficult decision. They stated, “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. We’re proud of the team, talent, and the product we’ve created together. We’re also grateful for players who gave the game a shot and those who continue to be a part of our community.”
While the exact number of staff affected has not been disclosed, reports indicate that at least 18 developers have publicly acknowledged their layoffs on LinkedIn.
*Highguard*, which launched on January 26th, has generated mixed discussions regarding its marketing strategy following its reveal at December’s Game Awards. Despite some concerns about its visibility, the reception of the game has been moderately positive. As commented by a reviewer from Rock Paper Shotgun, “At its best, *Highguard* is also subtly effective at recreating the best bits of its myriad inspirations,” with gameplay moments reminiscent of popular titles like *Dota 2*, showcasing the potential for depth and strategy.
As the studio grapples with these changes, solidarity is extended to all employees affected by the layoffs during this challenging time.
