Smite 1 & other Hi-Rez game updates halted as studio lays off 70 employees

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At Hi-Rez Studios, there are job cuts taking place as they realign their focus primarily on Smite 2. Reports suggest that around 70 employees may be let go, and some games under their umbrella will no longer receive updates. The affected titles include Smite 1, Paladins, and Rogue Company. Despite this, the servers for each game will continue to operate indefinitely.

As a gamer, I’ve learned about some tough changes happening at Hi-Rez Studios. Hayzer, a Smite esports pro, shared the news in the company’s Discord, and it was also confirmed by Hi-Rez President Stewart Chisam to Kotaku. The list of employees affected is now visible on Reddit. Stewart mentioned that the challenging state of the gaming industry has forced these layoffs this week.

As a devoted fan, I can share that Stewart emphasized Smite 2 as the “main priority in our streamlined setup,” assuring us that the servers for Smite 1, Paladins, and Rogue Company will continue to function smoothly for the time being. Rest assured, there are still minor updates on the horizon for all three games.

For a while now, it’s been known that Smite 2 is under development, with its initial unveiling happening in the year 2024. After this announcement, they launched a free-to-play open beta, which allows both casual players and professionals to collaborate with Titan Forge Games on refining and expanding the game.

It appears that Hi-Rez Studios is putting a lot of resources into Smite 2, which may impact their older games and employees. Keep an eye out here at Shacknews as we follow the progress of Smite 2 and Hi-Rez Studios for further updates.

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2025-02-07 19:27