As a veteran gamer with over three decades of gaming under my belt, I can’t help but feel a pang of sadness and concern as yet another wave of layoffs sweeps through our beloved industry. I remember the days when Hi-Rez Studios was a beacon of hope in the MOBA genre with their groundbreaking game, Smite.
As a dedicated enthusiast, I’m saddened to share that Hi-Rez Studios, known for their brilliant Smite games, has announced it will be reducing its workforce, leaving the exact number of employees affected unspecified. This news arrives not long after the release of Smite 2, the MOBA sequel, which went live in paid early access.
According to PC Gamer, Hi-Rez Studios hasn’t provided an exact number of employees who will be affected by the layoffs, but they stated that these reductions will impact all areas within the company. Notably, Hi-Rez CEO Stewart Chisam explained on X that this decision will particularly impact team members in marketing, publishing roles, as well as some from Evil Mojo, G&A, and Titan Forge divisions. With only a few teams remaining to support Smite and Paladins, the company is planning to direct its main focus toward Smite 2.
In simpler terms, Chisam mentioned that the roles within the game development team significantly influenced our team working on cosmetic items and system aspects. He further explained that for Smite 2, the primary focus will be on enhancing gameplay rather than new cosmetics. Specifically, they are primarily focusing on developing new modes, gods, and improving quality in the short term, as opposed to some previously planned cosmetic and monetization features that were intended before the game’s free-to-play release next year.
Chisam points out that, even after recent layoffs, a substantial number of developers are still dedicated to Smite 2. He explains that the development team for Smite 2 is significantly larger than the one responsible for the original game during most of its active years. In the short term, their aim for Smite 2 is to deliver an exceptional gaming experience to our community and a game that brings delight to players, ensuring its longevity well into the 2030s.
I’m deeply affected by this news as it significantly impacts the people who contribute so much to our gaming industry during these challenging times,” I expressed in my post. “Each person affected is a skilled and passionate professional, pouring their heart and soul into our games. Making these layoffs is an emotionally tough choice, it shows a shortcoming on my part as a leader, and I accept full responsibility for this decision.
2023 and 2024 have been challenging periods for the video game industry workforce, with numerous job cuts reported, numbering in the tens of thousands. These layoffs appear to be ongoing, as August witnessed reductions at Ubisoft and Bungie, followed by Microsoft letting go of 650 employees from its gaming sector in September. The comments made by former Sony executive Chris Deering regarding recent job cuts have drawn criticism, as he suggested that affected workers consider driving for Uber instead.
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2024-10-03 15:39