Why SMITE’s NA West Players Feel Like Second-Class Citizens

by

Ever since its debut, Smite has been enchanting players with its unique blend of mythological tales and team-based battles. However, a series of distressing debates have surfaced within the North American West community, where players feel like they’re fighting a tough climb to simply have fun. The core issue? Persistent server lag issues. West Coast gamers are voicing their concerns about being overlooked in the vast world of Smite due to high latency and server problems. As numerous players grapple with the challenges of staying connected with friends, an important question lingers: when will Hi-Rez address this issue and offer the same quality experience to West Coast champions as their Eastern peers?

Summary

  • NA West players express consistent frustration over high ping and server reliability issues in Smite.
  • Many believe that Hi-Rez shows a preferential bias towards East Coast players, impacting engagement and competition.
  • The update to Smite 2 has exacerbated existing issues, making formerly fun and mechanical gameplay feel sluggish and unresponsive.
  • Players emphasize the need for centralized servers to help improve the gaming experience for everyone across the regions.

The Plight of Ping

As a gamer based on the West Coast, I can’t help but feel the raw frustration that rAirist expressed in his Reddit post. It seems like lag and underperforming servers have been a persistent issue since this game launched, making it feel less like a smooth gaming experience and more like playing a game of jump rope with a flawless combo.

It’s not just about wanting what others have; it’s about the direct impact these server issues have on our gameplay quality. The constant pings hovering around 120 or higher are making the game feel less enjoyable and more challenging than it should be.

To make matters worse, it seems that players in other regions have been blessed with better server options, while we on the West Coast have been stuck on this laggy rollercoaster without a break. This feeling of neglect is only worsened when East Coast gamers like JackTheSoldier either don’t experience these issues or are unaware of them altogether. This disparity in gaming conditions just adds more fuel to our frustration.

Will Hi-Rez Ever Step Up?

Many comments indicate that Hi-Rez seems unaware of the concerns of their North American West players. Whoretron8000 expressed disappointment saying, “It’s ridiculous that the west coast has high ping when it comes to playing on Hi-Rez.” The shared feelings suggest that players are frustrated with what appears to be a solvable issue in an era where tech companies consistently enhance user experiences. It seems puzzling as to why the technologically advanced West is being overlooked in this multiplayer game. The problem isn’t merely about delayed gameplay, but it’s more about feeling undervalued as customers. As players like 99_Raccoons point out, there are millions of players in states such as California and Washington—the foundation for a thriving community is present, yet it feels suppressed due to negligence of the servers.

The Experience of Playing Smite 2

The transition to Smite 2 has brought fresh levels of irritation for West Coast gamers who were already struggling with lag problems. As rAirist explains, the smooth gameplay they once enjoyed is disrupted by high ping, especially when playing gods like Susano that require precision. This high ping disrupts the game’s mechanics, causing unexpected outcomes. For example, instead of auto-cancelling abilities as Susano should, players find themselves stuck, making the game seem sluggish and unresponsive. The initial joy of returning to the game soon fades when it feels like you’re fighting against a poorly optimized network connection. Players like suitcasemotorcycle have observed that playing on East Coast servers, despite showing acceptable pings, offers a vastly different experience compared to the intuitive one they recall. This implies that it might not just be about higher latency, but potentially a mix of netcode issues that intensify lag symptoms.

The Bigger Picture: Player Community and Competition

It’s important to note that the sense of being overlooked experienced by North American West players doesn’t just affect casual gaming; it also influences the competitive scene in a significant way. The phenomenon of neutrality shed light on a broader issue where East Coast players have historically held more sway, largely due to disadvantages faced by West Coast players over time. This lopsided competitive environment reinforces a widespread feeling of inferiority among Western players, making them feel as though they are being denied opportunities for success and recognition. With the player base dwindling, there’s a growing concern that if these disparities persist, it could ultimately lead to the downfall of the competitive scene. The discontent expressed through comments such as “Hi-Rez has prematurely killed it off” is clear proof that many believe the company should strive to cultivate vibrant communities in both regions, fostering a fair and amicable competition environment.

In light of the current situation, numerous players, even dedicated ones, have found themselves questioning whether it would be wiser to redirect their attention towards independent games like Rivals. Maintaining a community requires a great deal of emotional commitment, but when that commitment seems unreturned, it can spark thoughts about loyalty towards Smite. By addressing these concerns, Hi-Rez Studios could foster a mutually beneficial environment. This doesn’t require an excessive investment; just acknowledging their existence and making efforts to improve server conditions for all players could strengthen the bond within this gaming community.

Fundamentally, NA West players yearn for respect and equitable treatment. They’ve invested a tremendous amount of time cultivating a community, yet often find themselves overlooked while their peers enjoy seamless gameplay in Smite. If Hi-Rez listens to their pleas, maybe one day the term ‘second-class citizens‘ will no longer apply, and they can immerse themselves in the delightful realm of Smite without the persistent sensation of lag looming like a threatening deity above them.

Read More

2025-05-27 12:45