Hi-Rez Studios has announced layoffs as part of an internal reorganization and prioritization. The company is shifting its primary focus to the development of Smite 2, which is currently in Early Access. Studio Head Steward Chisam described the layoffs as difficult but necessary to ensure the company has a long and sustainable future.
Smite, originally released in 2014 using Unreal Engine 3, has been a significant success in the MOBA genre. Chisam did not disclose the number of employees laid off but noted that the restructuring will largely affect those in marketing, publishing, and roles within the Evil Mojo, G&A, and Titan Forge divisions. Some developers will continue to work on Paladins and Smite, providing light updates, but the majority of the studio’s resources are now dedicated to Smite 2.
Hi-Rez’s reorganization for Smite 2
The team behind Smite 2 is focused on gameplay development in the near term, which includes introducing new modes, Gods, and quality-of-life improvements, rather than initially planned cosmetic and monetization features. Chisam emphasized the significant human impact of the layoffs, but stated that the Smite 2 development team is larger than the team that worked on Smite 1 at its peak.
The team aims to make Smite 2 a game that can sustain itself long into the 2030s. Despite being in the Alpha stage, the team has made substantial progress in migrating gods from Smite 1 to Smite 2 and is committed to meeting player expectations and accelerating this transition. To participate in the Early Access phase, interested players are required to purchase the Founder’s Pack.
The game is expected to go free-to-play after its first year. The number of layoffs may be disclosed in the future, but for now, comments on the announcement have been disabled.
