Smite and Realm Royale developer and writer HiRez is shifting most of its remaining employees and assets away from a few of its present video games so as to assist 2024’s Smite 2. This implies the unique Smite, Rogue Firm, and class-based shooter Paladins will now not obtain giant content material updates sooner or later.
As reported by GameDeveloper.com, earlier this week HiRez Studios laid off round 70 workers in accordance with public posts on social media. A person on the Smite subreddit has cataloged the entire public layoff confirmations from particular person workers and documented them in a single submit. A Discord message noticed by Dexerto, reportedly from a HiRez consultant, indicated {that a} “discount” throughout the entire the corporate’s inner groups has occurred and this has led to some large adjustments for its video games. HiRez Studios’ president Stewart Chisam later confirmed the layoffs in an e mail to Kotaku.
In keeping with that very same aforementioned Discord message, HiRez will now not be supporting or growing giant updates for Paladins, Rogue Firm, or the unique Smite.
“Smite 1, Paladins and Rogue Company servers will stay out there for the foreseeable future, however no additional main updates are at present deliberate for these video games,” mentioned the unnamed HiRez rep. “We perceive this may increasingly come as a disappointment to a lot of you, however know that Paladins has an extremely particular place in our hearts. We plan to maintain the servers and at present out there content material operating so long as potential to will let you proceed to benefit from the sport.”
Chisam confirmed to Kotaku that 70 individuals had been laid off throughout “all divisions.”
“We all know that is an exceptionally troublesome time to seek out work within the trade, which makes it much more devastating to have let go of so many loyal and proficient builders,” Chisam advised Kotaku. “We pursued each angle out there to us to keep away from these cuts, but it surely was essential to make sure that we survive on this tumultuous atmosphere.”
Chisam advised Kotaku that Smite 2 will proceed to be the “major focus of the newly streamlined operations” and confirmed that the OG Smite, Paladins, and Rogue Firm servers will all “stay out there for the foreseeable future.” He additionally indicated that “minor updates” are nonetheless deliberate for these video games.
.