Highguard Players Receive Unexpected PS5 Refunds as Studio Closes Permanently

Less than a week after the servers for Highguard went dark for good, the beleaguered hero shooter is reportedly issuing refunds, at least for PlayStation 5 players. The game’s swift demise has prompted Sony to facilitate refunds for players who spent money on the title, serving as a final gesture before Wildlight Entertainment closes its doors.

On March 17, players who had purchased items from the free-to-play shooter’s battle pass or skin shop received emails from Sony informing them that their expenditures had been refunded. It remains uncertain whether all players who spent money on Highguard are receiving refunds or if it’s limited to those who made purchases after Wildlight announced layoffs shortly after the game’s launch. There’s a possibility that Sony mandated these refunds, and it’s unclear if similar actions are being taken on Steam or Xbox.

Since the game was free to download, refunding all players would mean that the shooter, developed by former Apex Legends and Titanfall creators, would ultimately generate no revenue during its brief two-month existence.

“I honestly didn’t care for a refund,” shared one player on a forum. “I enjoyed the game and liked supporting it, but if you were looking for a refund, they are sending them out.” I can relate; I logged over 30 hours in the game and had a great time with friends. I even spent $20 on skins as a way to show appreciation to the developers, despite the game’s evident struggles.

One aspect that has puzzled many regarding Highguard’s rapid decline is why the studio didn’t have more time to refine the game. After playing quite a bit, it feels like the game was rushed and could have greatly benefited from beta testing or additional content at launch. According to reports, some developers at the studio believed that funding from Tencent was pulled at the last moment when it became apparent that the game was underperforming.

At this point, it seems unlikely that Wildlight Entertainment will continue operations. Their LinkedIn page has been taken down, and the official website is currently offline.