While Smite 2 was just released last month, it seems all is not well with the developers, as a new report has surfaced statingHi-Rez Studioshas laid off staff members of the Smite development team.
According to the report byGame Developer, “dozens” of developers from the Smite team have been impacted, with the developers sharing their predicament on social media.
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Smite Development Team Hit With Job Cuts
So far, nearly 30 Hi-Rez Studios employees have been given the pink slip, with various sectors of the Smite team affected. Based on theRedditthread where the job cuts are compiled, people from QA, Esports and production departments were laid off.
Hi-Rez has not made any announcements regarding the job cuts, which leaves the game’s future in doubt. At the time this article went live, the company had not responded to a comment inquiry regarding the matter.
In October 2024, Hi-Rez also laid off workers, with the cosmetic and system teams across its various divisions affected.
If you’re unfamiliar with Smite 2, it’s the sequel to 2014’s Smite, and it’s a free-to-play, third-person MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) built on Unreal Engine 5, and is available on PC and consoles.
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Last month, we ran ourhands-on impressions of Smite 2where it states, “I came away with the impression that the sequel is Smite with a new, shiny coat of paint. The visual advancements are obvious, with more detailed character models, sleeker environments and most visually impressive of all, new effects for abilities.”
While unconfirmed, the latest round of Hi-Rez layoffs adds to the already-stacked pile—and we’re just in February.
Ubisoft hasconfirmed the closure of one of its UK studios, and Bandai Namco Entertainment hasquietly laid off over 100 staff members. It’s been a rough start of the year for video game developers, as we’ve already lost count how many jobs have been affected across the entire industry.
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WHERE TO PLAY
SMITE 2 is the sequel to the decade-old MOBA from Hi-Rez Studios and Titan Forge Games. It’s a third-person 5v5 MOBA where the cast is gods from various mythologies and pantheons.
