Sony Automatically Refunding Players for Highguard's Additional Content After Live Service Shutdown

Sony has begun automatically issuing refunds to players who purchased extra content for the short-lived live service game Highguard. The game launched on January 26 with minimal communication following its announcement at The Game Awards in December. Despite initially reaching nearly 100,000 concurrent players on Steam, player numbers quickly dropped. Developer Wildlight attempted to address issues by adding a 5v5 mode in response to complaints about the original 3v3 format, but most of the studio was laid off shortly after. Wildlight announced Highguard would shut down permanently on March 12, following a 'farewell tour' patch.

Players on Reddit have reported receiving automatic refunds, with one stating: 'I honestly didn't care for a refund. I enjoyed the game and enjoyed supporting it, but if you were looking for a refund, they are sending them out.' Currently, Sony appears to be proactively returning money, as commenters note they haven't received similar refunds from Steam or Xbox yet.

This situation mirrors the fate of Concord, another live service hero shooter that became one of PlayStation's biggest failures. Sony pulled Concord offline just two weeks after launch due to extremely low player numbers, with estimates suggesting only 25,000 copies were sold. Its developer, Firewalk Studios, closed soon after.

Former Wildlight level designer Alex Graner recently discussed Highguard's development on the Quad Damage Podcast, noting the team 'really leaned into the competitive side.' He expressed concerns as a player, saying: '3v3 duos is always the sweatiest version... It requires such high intensity of communication and team play that it doesn't leave much room for casualness. I think that was the biggest thing that turned a lot of players off Highguard.'

Graner explained that Highguard's complex rules and stages made it difficult for solo players and newcomers. 'It has all these rules, which I think works at a really high level, but when players are first coming in it's a lot to grasp,' he said. The 3v3 format demanded high-skill movement and shooting, creating a steep learning curve. 'If you just have a few bad games or your teammates aren't sticking together, you're just going to get rolled,' Graner added, emphasizing the team-based design that alienated players without premade teams.

Another former developer recently criticized the game's announcement and launch, stating Highguard 'turned into a joke from minute one, largely due to false assumptions about a million-dollar ad placement.' The game was financially backed by Tencent, which reportedly withdrew funding just weeks after launch. Wildlight now appears defunct, with its website offline and LinkedIn page unavailable.