Smite and Realm Royale developer and writer HiRez is shifting most of its remaining employees and sources away from a few of its present video games to be able to help 2024’s Smite 2. This implies the unique Smite, Rogue Firm, and class-based shooter Paladins will not obtain giant content material updates sooner or later.
As reported by GameDeveloper.com, earlier this week HiRez Studios laid off round 70 staff in response to public posts on social media. A person on the Smite subreddit has cataloged the entire public layoff confirmations from particular person staff 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 inside groups has occurred and this has led to some huge modifications for its video games. HiRez Studios’ president Stewart Chisam later confirmed the layoffs in an electronic mail to Kotaku.
In keeping with that very same aforementioned Discord message, HiRez will not be supporting or growing giant updates for Paladins, Rogue Firm, or the unique Smite.
“Smite 1, Paladins and Rogue Company servers will stay obtainable for the foreseeable future, however no additional main updates are presently deliberate for these video games,” stated the unnamed HiRez rep. “We perceive this will likely 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 presently obtainable content material operating so long as potential to assist you to proceed to benefit from the recreation.”
Chisam confirmed to Kotaku that 70 individuals have been laid off throughout “all divisions.”
“We all know that is an exceptionally tough 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 instructed Kotaku. “We pursued each angle obtainable to us to keep away from these cuts, however it was obligatory to make sure that we survive on this tumultuous atmosphere.”
Chisam instructed 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 obtainable for the foreseeable future.” He additionally indicated that “minor updates” are nonetheless deliberate for these video games.
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