Brutal Game Layoffs Continue With Smite Developer Hi-Rez
The ongoing wave of layoffs in the video game industry continues with Hi-Rez Studios, the developer of the Smite games, announcing it will be letting go of an unspecified number of employees. The layoffs come shortly after Hi-Rez released MOBA sequel Smite 2 in paid early access.
Via PC Gamer, Hi-Rez hasn’t specified how many people will be impacted by the layoffs, but said that they will affect all parts of the company. “This will disproportionately impact those in marketing and publishing roles, as well as some from our Evil Mojo, G&A, and Titan Forge divisions,” Hi-Rez CEO Stewart Chisam said on X. Only small teams will be left to support Smite and Paladins, while the company shifts its major focus to Smite 2.
“The game team roles impacted disproportionally affect our team working on cosmetic skin content and system features.” Chisam said, adding that development on Smite 2 will focus on gameplay over new cosmetics. “We are almost exclusively prioritizing gameplay development in the near term–such as new modes and gods–as well as quality improvements–over some cosmetic and monetization features previously planned in the run-up to the game’s free-to-play launch next year.”