Hi-Rez Studios, the developer behind Smite 2 and Paladins, has announced that it will lay off an unspecified number of employees in order to “ensure [the company’s] long-term success.”
Hi-Rez CEO Stewart Chisam announced the job cuts in a lengthy statement shared on social media, saying the layoffs – instigated as part of an “internal reorganization and reprioritization” – “will have a disproportionate impact on those who hold marketing and publishing roles”. Staff at Hi-Rez's Evil Mojo, G&A, and Titan Forge divisions are also affected, with Chisam saying that these latest cuts will “disproportionately impact our team working on skin cosmetic content and system features.”
Chisam went on to acknowledge the “true human impact” of the layoffs, adding: “Each affected individual is a talented and dedicated professional who has poured their heart and soul into our games. Letting them go is a heartbreaking decision, reflecting a failure in my leadership, and for which I take personal responsibility.”
The layoffs follow a “comprehensive review of [the studio’s] strategy and operations,” which will also see Hi-Rez’s gaming division “focus [its] efforts entirely 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 gameplay development for Smite 2 – including new modes, gods, and quality improvements, over the aesthetic and monetization features it had previously planned to release ahead of next year's free-to-play launch.
Smite 2 was announced in January and released as a paid early access title for PC and consoles in August. At least on Steam, player reviews of 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 long into 2030,” 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 gamers' expectations players and moves faster, taking into account the lessons we learned in the first Alpha.”
“While these changes are difficult,” Chisam's statement concluded, “we believe they are necessary and we will emerge stronger. We appreciate your continued support and understanding during this difficult time, and the support and thanks you give to employees who are affected and they have given so much of their passion and time to entertain us all. Thank you for standing by 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 over 12,000 employees lose their jobs since the start of the year. Back in March, GamesIndustry.biz's Chris Tring, writing for Eurogamer, took a closer look at the circumstances that have led to such a massive number of job cuts in recent years.