Key Takeaways
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- The shadow drop strategy, popularized by Respawn Entertainment with Apex Legends, can lead to negative reception if the anticipated announcement is not as expected, such as a major single-player game instead of another hero shooter.
- Technical issues and unexpectedly high demand for a game (like Highguard) can strain development teams and result in poor reviews, causing a significant decline in player interest.
- Tencent may have provided funding for Highguard through its subsidiary Timi, but the details of this investment remain unclear. This could potentially lead to Tencent absorbing any financial losses associated with the project.
- The sudden rise and fall of games like Highguard and Concord may signal the uncertain future of development studios (like Wildlight Entertainment) that rely on these strategies, potentially leading to layoffs or even dissolution of the company.
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Sony’s Concord now appears destined to follow the path of Highguard, Wildlight Entertainment’s debut game, which was released in late January and, less than a month later, had its website disabled with barely 1,500 active users. Highguard was plagued by technical issues and remained a complete secret until The Game Awards 2025. A picture showcasing Highguard’s gameplay was shared on Twitter by Grummz. On February 17, 2026, Highguard’s funding by Tencent was confirmed, and the Highguard website shut down that same day. Over 1.5 million gamers tried Highguard in January 2026. On February 14, 2026, a former developer discussed the harsh online responses to the game’s announcement and launch. Shortly after Highguard went live on February 12, 2026, Wildlight Entertainment laid off most of their team.
Wildlight Entertainment CEO Dusty Welch revealed that the original plan was to surprise-release the game in late January, following the “shadow drop” strategy popularized by Respawn Entertainment with Apex Legends. Several Wildlight team members had previously worked at Respawn. Welch stated that when Geoff Keighley proposed closing The Game Awards show with a Highguard trailer, he considered it an irresistible offer. The shadow drop idea was then scrapped. However, viewers hoped for a major single-player game announcement as the show’s finale, not another hero shooter, and immediately criticized both Keighley and Highguard. Despite the negative reception, Wildlight proceeded with its plans and released Highguard in late January. The game’s initial release as a free-to-play title fueled hope for possible success, with many players trying it out. However, the product page on Steam was soon flooded with negative reviews. Wildlight began laying off its development team last week, retaining only a few for minimal game support. The game reached a peak of 1,507 concurrent players on Steam within 24 hours, and the official website has been down for several hours—signs suggesting a formal shutdown is imminent.
Tencent-Funded Highguard in Secret Deal Amid Uncertain Future for Wildlight Entertainment
Given these signs, Highguard may exit as quickly as Concord. While Firewalk Studios’ fate was decided by Sony, Tencent will likely absorb the financial losses for Highguard. Journalist Stephen Totilo reports that Tencent funded the project through subsidiary Timi, though Tencent has never publicly associated with the studio. The reason for secrecy regarding the agreement remains unclear, and the exact investment amount is unknown, though sources indicate it was substantial. Wildlight Entertainment may also vanish.
In Case You Missed It
If you’re craving insights into gaming and entertainment news, we’ve got a trio of posts that are must-reads! First up, Bruno Pferd takes on Sony’s State of Play event in “But What Do You Really Think?”, published February 14th. He dives deep into the hour-long showcase, exploring the hype around remastered classics like God of War and Castlevania, as well as new entries like Project Windless and Silent Hill: Townfall – don’t miss his perceptive take on PlayStation’s future here Sony’s State of Play: But What Do You Really Think?. Meanwhile, our gaming community has been buzzing with Jonathan Dubinski’s latest piece, “Fired Highguard Developer Criticizes Players’ Online Reaction”. Published on the same day, this insightful article explores how online criticism and toxicity significantly impacted Wildlight Entertainment’s shooter game Highguard. Developer Josh Sobel shares his harrowing experience as nearly a hundred thousand players initially enjoyed the game simultaneously on Steam before it became the target of personal attacks – a fascinating look into the human aspect behind game development here Fired Highguard Developer Criticizes Players’ Online Reaction. Lastly, movie buffs, Ahmed Hassan’s ‘Good and Bad News About Pirates of the Caribbean 6’ will have you hoisting your colors! Published February 12th, this article reveals exclusive insights from producer Jerry Bruckheimer himself about the uncertain future of Jack Sparrow’s son rumors and Margot Robbie’s potential involvement – set sail for the latest buzz here Good and Bad News About Pirates of the Caribbean 6.