Smite 2 developer Hi-Rez Studios has laid off an undisclosed variety of workers as the MOBA sequel struggles all through its early entry interval.
Hi-Rez Studios CEO Stewart Chisam introduced the layoffs on X/Twitter alongside a shift in technique for Smite 2, which launched in early entry on August 27 and is deliberate for a full, free-to-play launch in 2025.
“We’re making some troublesome however essential modifications to make sure Hi-Rez’s long-term success, with a particular give attention to positioning Smite 2 for a protracted and sustainable future,” Chisam stated.
“As a part of this inside reorganization and reprioritization, we’re shedding some group members throughout Hi-Rez. It will disproportionately affect these in advertising and marketing and publishing roles, as nicely as some from our Evil Mojo, G&A, and Titan Forge divisions. The sport group roles impacted disproportionally have an effect on our group engaged on beauty pores and skin content material and system options.”
Hi-Rez is now focusing completely on Smite 2 past “small groups supporting gentle updates” for its different video games. It’s “completely prioritizing gameplay improvement in the close to time period” as an alternative of the beauty and monetization options beforehand deliberate.
Chisam assured the event group hasn’t been decimated by the layoffs, saying it is nonetheless a “vital measurement” and bigger than the event group behind the unique Smite for almost all of its lifecycle.
“Our aim for Smite 2 in the close to time period is to create the absolute best sport expertise for our neighborhood and a sport that gives pleasure to gamers and might maintain itself lengthy into the 2030s,” Chisam added.
“As we’ve gained expertise by the Alpha, the method of migrating gods from Smite 1 to Smite 2 is now clearer, and we additionally higher perceive what gamers need from the sport. We’re doubling down on guaranteeing this transition meets participant expectations and strikes sooner, taking into consideration the teachings we now have realized in the early alpha.”
Smite 2 was introduced in January as basically a whole remake of the unique sport however with revamps throughout the board. Bringing over the skins gamers have collected for the final decade is not really easy, nonetheless, as Hi-Rez Studios beforehand stated porting all 1,600 of them would take 246 years price of labor.
The sequel has not essentially gone down nicely with followers, nonetheless. Solely 55% of its Steam opinions are constructive and concurrent participant numbers have fallen off, having premiered at 12,549 however dropped off to a 24 hour peak of jut 1,869, in accordance with participant monitoring web site (*2*).
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He’ll discuss The Witcher all day.