Hi-Rez Studios, the developer behind Smite 2 and Paladins, has announced that it will be laying off an undisclosed number of employees to “ensure [the company’s] long-term success.
Chisam acknowledged the “real human impact” of the layoffs, adding: “Each individual affected is a talented and dedicated professional who has poured their heart and soul into our games. Letting them go is a heartbreaking decision, reflects a failure in my leadership, and one for which I take personal responsibility.”
The layoffs come after a “thorough review of [the studio’s] strategy and operations,” which will also see Hi-Rez's gaming division “focus [its] efforts exclusively on Smite 2”, although “small teams” will continue to release “light updates” for Paladins and Smite 1. In the short term, Hi-Rez will “almost exclusively” prioritize game development for Smite 2, including new modes. , gods and quality improvements, about the cosmetic and monetization features it had previously planned to release in the lead-up to its free release next year.
Smite 2 was announced in January and launched as a paid Early Access title for PC and consoles in August. At least on Steam, player reviews for the MOBA sequel remain mixed.
“Our goal for Smite 2 in the short term is to create the best possible gaming experience for our community and a game that brings joy to players and can sustain itself into the 2030s,” Chisam continued. “As we have gained experience through Alpha, the process of migrating gods from Smite 1 to Smite 2 is now clearer and we also better understand what players want from the game. We are redoubling our efforts to ensure this transition meets expectations of players. and move faster, taking into account the lessons we have learned in the initial Alpha phase.
“While these changes are difficult,” Chisam's statement concluded, “we believe they are necessary and we will emerge stronger from them. We appreciate your continued support and understanding during this challenging period, and the support and gratitude you provide to employees who are facing affected”. and they have dedicated much of their passion and time to helping us all be entertained. Thank you for supporting us as we build the future of Hi-Rez and Smite 2.”
Today's news continues a devastating 2024 for the games industry, which has already seen more than 12,000 employees lose their jobs since the year began. In March, GamesIndustry.biz's Chris Tring, writing for Eurogamer, took a closer look at the circumstances that led to such a massive number of job cuts in recent years.