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Highguard Lays Off Staff After Game Launch

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 first revealed at The Game Awards in December, struggled to retain players after its January launch.

The layoffs were confirmed by Wildlight Entertainment, though the exact number of affected employees was not specified. "Highguard" was created by a team of industry veterans who had previously worked on successful titles like "Call of Duty," "Apex Legends," and "Titanfall," according to BBC Technology. Despite this pedigree, the free-to-play game failed to maintain player interest.

In other news, the head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, testified in a California court this week, defending his platform against claims that 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 Reuters. The landmark trial, expected to last six weeks, aims to hold tech firms accountable for the impact of their platforms on young people. Lawyers for Meta, which owns Instagram, have also presented their arguments in the case.

Meanwhile, the UK economy experienced a "subdued" end to 2025, growing by a slightly lower-than-expected 0.1% in the final quarter, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), as reported by BBC Business. The slight growth was largely driven by an increase in manufacturing, while the crucial services sector saw no growth for the first time in over two years. The construction sector suffered its worst quarterly performance in four years, the ONS added. Labour, which has made growing the economy its top priority since coming to power, noted that the overall picture for growth at the end of the year remained weak.

In a separate development, Beirut-based journalist George Azar has been unable to contact his friend and fixer in Gaza, Raed Athamneh, since October 2023. The two had built a strong bond over 20 years while covering news stories together. Azar is watching the events unfolding in Gaza from afar, traumatized by the escalating war, according to Al Jazeera. He has been meeting with other journalists in Lebanon who have also experienced Israeli bombardment, and faces mounting anxiety when he does not hear from Athamneh.

AI-Assisted Journalism

This article was generated with AI assistance, synthesizing reporting from multiple credible news sources. Our editorial team reviews AI-generated content for accuracy.

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