Key Takeaways
1. Sony is issuing automatic refunds for microtransactions in Highguard after the game’s servers were shut down on March 12, 2026, despite typically strict refund policies.
2. Refunds are currently available only for PlayStation users, with Steam players needing to request their refunds manually.
3. Highguard had a very short lifespan of just six weeks, failing to retain its initial player base after a strong launch.
4. Wildlight, the studio behind Highguard, faced severe consequences, reducing its workforce to 20 employees before the entire team was let go.
5. The situation underscores the risks of live-service games, which can fail quickly if player engagement and retention do not meet expectations.
Sony has begun issuing refunds to players who bought microtransactions in Highguard, even without players asking for them. This comes after the game’s servers were shut down on March 12, which many are calling a significant failure. It’s quite unexpected for a company like Sony to refund microtransactions in a free-to-play game that is no longer operational, as they typically adhere strongly to their refund policies.
Refunds Confirmed
The information first appeared on a deleted Reddit thread where a player who had enjoyed their time with Wildlight’s Highguard shared that they received a notification on their PlayStation. This notification informed them that their microtransaction purchases were set to be refunded fully. In their now-removed post, they mentioned, “I honestly didn’t want a refund. I liked the game and wanted to support it, but if you were seeking a refund, they are sending them out.”
Limited Availability
Reports suggest that the refunds for Highguard’s microtransactions are currently exclusive to PlayStation users, despite the game’s availability on both Steam and Xbox Series X|S. Many Steam players who made microtransaction purchases have taken the initiative to request refunds themselves.
PlayStation users were particularly surprised, as Sony began distributing refunds for everything from battle-pass upgrades to cosmetic items around March 17, 2026.
A Short Life
Sadly, Highguard’s journey was short-lived. The game was introduced at The Game Awards 2025 in December, but the response was mostly negative from gamers. The ambitious “shadow drop” strategy, similar to that of Apex Legends, didn’t pan out as hoped. Highguard briefly attracted about 100,000 players, but that number quickly dwindled, and the game never regained its initial audience.
Wildlight faced significant consequences due to the failure of Highguard. The studio’s workforce was reduced to just 20 employees, and by early March, the entire team was let go. The game did not achieve the performance targets set by Tencent’s TiMi Group, leading to the servers being permanently closed on March 12.
Thus, Highguard existed for merely six weeks. The studio released a final farewell patch, marking the end of what many consider a Concord-level failure. Wildlight has now vanished, with their website and LinkedIn page completely wiped.
It’s still uncertain whether Microsoft or Steam will also provide automatic refunds for Highguard. Nonetheless, this situation highlights how live-service games can collapse within weeks of launch if player engagement, retention, and numbers do not align.
r/HighGuardGame
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