Hi-Rez Studios Faces Workforce Cuts as Smite 2 Shifts Focus Amid Mixed Reception

Hi-Rez Studios has recently undergone workforce reductions amid challenges faced by Smite 2 during its initial access phase. The studio’s attempts at developing the MOBA sequel have led to significant changes as they assess the game's future within a competitive environment.

The CEO of Hi-Rez Studios, Stewart Chisam, confirmed the layoffs via X/Twitter along with a strategic pivot for Smite 2, which debuted available for early access beginning on August 27 and is set for a full transition to a free-to-play model in 2025. He mentioned the adjustments are tough yet essential to secure the studio's prolonged success while also emphasizing a commitment to establishing Smite 2’s sustainability.

As part of these organizational changes, team members across various divisions are being let go, particularly in positions associated with advertising and editorial tasks, along with from their Evil Mojo, G&A, and Titan Forge sectors. Roles centered around cosmetic skin production and system features are seeing a notable impact from these adjustments.

The focus of Hi-Rez has shifted entirely towards enhancing Smite 2, with only minimal teams working on light updates for other games. The priority is now on gameplay development in the short term, moving away from the previously intended cosmetic upgrades and monetization strategies.

Chisam clarified that while the layoffs are substantial, the development team remains robust and is actually larger than the team that maintained the original Smite throughout much of its run. The current aim for Smite 2 is to deliver an exemplary gaming experience for the community, ensuring it generates enjoyment and maintains longevity well into the next decade.

With insights gained from the Alpha stage, the studio has refined the process of transferring deities from Smite to Smite 2, gaining a clearer perspective on player desires. The commitment is to expedite this transition while keeping player expectations in mind and integrating lessons learned from the early phases.

First revealed in January, Smite 2 is a comprehensive reimagining of the original, featuring extensive improvements. However, the task of transferring over players' accumulated skins is complex; Hi-Rez previously indicated that transferring all 1,600 skins would require 246 years of labor.

Despite the ambitions for Smite 2, the reception from the gaming community has been mixed. Currently, only 55% of Steam reviews are favorable, and the number of concurrent players has significantly declined, starting with a peak of 12,549 at launch but dropping to just 1,869 within 24 hours, based on statistics from SteamDB.