In light of the widespread job cuts impacting various departments within Hi-Rez Studios, as well as its subsidiaries such as Titan Forge, Rally Here, and Evil Mojo Games, it seems that progress on both Paladins and Smite has come to a standstill for now. I, along with many other fans, eagerly await updates regarding the resumption of development for these beloved games.
For now, these game titles will continue to exist, but they won’t get any new content or even small bug fixes from the developers. Essentially, they have been abandoned and, in practical terms, can be considered as no longer active or alive.
Over the last ten years, Hi-Rez Studios has closed down several multiplayer games such as Rogue Company, Prophecy, Divine Knockout, and Realm Royale. Despite these games showing potential initially, many of Hi-Rez’s major gambles in the multiplayer sector have not been successful financially.
Primarily, it was these two titles – Smite and Paladins (to a slightly smaller degree) – that made the company renowned. In the intensely competitive multiplayer arena, these live service games managed to maintain a loyal playerbase substantial enough to keep the company thriving and significant.
Due to the difficult process of developing Smite 2 and Hi-Rez Studios’ focus on releasing it from its beta phase, they were forced to make significant staff cuts which, in essence, have led to the apparent demise of all other games produced by the company.
Smite 2 in peril as Hi-Rez makes significant job cuts
hi-rez studios’ restructuring has led to a maintenance phase for their games, Smite and Paladins. This move aims to maintain the existing versions of these games and keep their servers running for as long as possible.
Even though the original Smite is over a decade old, it continues to be actively updated. In contrast, some players found the beta version of Smite 2 a bit unpolished, and as a result, they opted to continue playing the first version rather than switching to the new one.
Although Paladins doesn’t roll out content as frequently as it used to in its prime, it still adds new characters, adjustments for balance, and maps several times a year. With this recent announcement, development on one of the few hero shooters that could rival Overwatch (before Marvel Rivals emerged) has now come to an end.
A Hi-Rez representative shared on Discord that both Smite 1 and Rogue Company’s game servers will keep running for now, but they don’t have any significant updates lined up for either of these titles at the moment.
“Moving forward, our refined workflow will primarily concentrate on furthering the progress of Smite 2. This adjustment aims to ensure a consistent release of fresh content and ongoing development for Smite 2, while ensuring that our team’s expenses are balanced with their earnings.”
Additionally, the job cuts extended beyond employees working on Hi-Rez’s classic games, as there were significant layoffs in the team developing Smite 2 too.
— Ryan Bailey (@Aggro) February 6, 2025
Almost all departments within Hi-Rez Studios, ranging from veteran game designers with nearly a decade’s worth of service to UI/UX specialists, coders, marketers, and everyone in between, have experienced some impact.
It’s uncertain how extensive these job cuts are, but Smite content creator and broadcaster Hayzer estimates that approximately 50-60 employees have been let go in this latest round and the previous one, which is roughly half the workforce of the company.
Hayzer commented, “Those in authority have truly messed things up.” He added, “It’s ordinary individuals, everyday folks, who pour their heart and soul into creating an exceptional game and an outstanding esports product who end up bearing the brunt of it all.
Yet, the esports landscape remains vibrant, even as these reductions seem to target primarily the esports sector within the company.
In light of the evolving circumstances within our company, let me make it clear that our dedication to the competitiveness of Smite 2’s future remains unwavering,” stated Hi-Rez esports lead Hinduman.
In the future, the format of competitions in Smite might look different than what players and spectators are used to, but rest assured, structured competition will continue to be a top focus. Additionally, Hi-Rez will ensure there is prize money available for these events.
These job cuts occur immediately after the inaugural LAN tournament for Smite 2, an event held in Las Vegas with a prize pool of $300k. It’s important to note that at the moment of this writing, the esports site for Smite is not functioning, and pages from just a few weeks back have been removed.
CEO Stewart Chisam is facing criticism due in part to the fact that he removed his Twitter account just prior to the announcement of the recent round of layoffs.
I apologize to all, it’s regrettable yet not unexpected that Stew persists as a striking symbol of inefficiency. He appears perpetually captivated by his own incapability, much like a sightless captain navigating a vessel, and every obstacle he collides with is blamed on…
— fineokay (@fineokay_) February 6, 2025
It’s both sad and not surprising that Stew remains a prominent symbol of inefficiency. He appears to be captivated by his own inability, much like a blindfolded sailor navigating a vessel,” goes a tweet from Smite, labeling the CEO as a ‘hapless corporate jester.’
Previously high-ranking figure at Hi-Rez, Chris Larson, expressed his regret that his advice about the company’s trajectory wasn’t heeded a few years back, without elaborating on the specific matters he was discussing.
Other developers have endeavored to maintain an optimistic outlook, with Clumzy, an essential member of the design team for Smite 2, admitting feelings of survivor’s guilt amidst these events.
For those who have arrived: I comprehend your anger.
As a developer, I feel a heavy burden of survivor’s guilt.
However, I am also a developer who deeply desires the game to prosper despite the challenges faced. This endeavor has been an integral part of my life for so long. I refuse to abandon it.— TitanClumzy (@TitanClumzy) February 6, 2025
By focusing their efforts solely on Smite 2 and letting go of personnel from other projects, Hi-Rez Studios is essentially betting everything they’ve got on the success of this single game.
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2025-02-07 02:35