Wildlight Entertainment, the developer of the multiplayer shooter "Highguard," laid off multiple staff members just two weeks after the game's release, according to BBC Newsbeat. The game, which was given top billing at The Game Awards in December, struggled to retain players since its January launch.
The layoffs were confirmed by Wildlight Entertainment in a statement, though the specific number of employees affected was not immediately available. "Highguard" was created by a team with experience on major series like "Call of Duty," "Apex Legends," and "Titanfall," according to BBC Technology. Despite the team's pedigree, the free-to-play game failed to maintain player interest after its release.
In other news, the head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, testified in a California court this week, defending his platform against claims it caused mental health damage to minors. Mosseri, who has led Instagram for eight years, argued that even seemingly excessive use of social media does not equate to addiction, according to BBC Technology and BBC Business. The landmark trial, expected to last six weeks, is testing legal arguments aimed at holding tech firms accountable for the impact on young people. Lawyers for Meta, which owns Instagram, have argued the lead plaintiff in the case does not have an addiction.
The UK economy experienced a "subdued" end to 2025, growing by a slightly lower-than-expected 0.1% in the final quarter of the year, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), as reported by BBC Business. The slight growth was largely due to an increase in manufacturing during the period. The services sector showed no growth for the first time in over two years, and the construction sector suffered its worst quarterly performance in four years, the ONS added. Labour, which came to power with growing the economy as its number one priority, saw the overall picture for growth at the end of the year remain stagnant.
Finally, the royals faced scrutiny related to the Epstein scandal, despite hopes that Prince William's Saudi trip would shift attention, according to Sky News. The demand for statements from the royals has been enormous. Royal correspondent Rhiannon Mills noted that the calls for more information risk overshadowing the earlier statements from William, Kate, and Buckingham Palace.
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