It is reported that Hi-Rez Studios has halted the development of its earlier titles like Paladins, Rogue Company, and Smit. It has been indicated by a Discord message that was shared by Dexerto and a user on X, Hocky2001.
The studio is now shifting its focus and efforts on Smite 2, which is part of what they described as ‘newly streamlined operations.’ However, it has been noted that some developers who were working on Smite 2 have been laid off.
The official communication clarified that while the three older games will continue to be accessible for now there are currently no major updates planned for them.
Hayzer, who is a content creator linked with Smite has reported that the layoffs have affected between 50 to 60 developers. As of now, no comments have been made by Hi-Rex on the situation.
This week, Hi-Rez Studios which is famous for developing Smite and Realm Royale, appears to have undergone a round of layoffs. Around 30 employees have taken this to social media to share their experiences. Their posts have been gathered into a comprehensive Reddit thread.
The particular reasons behind these layoffs have not been made public yet. These cuts have been described as ‘massive’ by Gaming World’s Jake Lucky, with a major impact on the Smite team, which right now is working on the sequel, Smite 2.
Earlier on October 2-24, Hi-Rez Studios had also laid off staff, focusing on teams that are responsible for cosmetic and system features across its various divisions. This latest round of layoffs seems to be broader in scope, affecting designers, producers, programmers, and esports commentators among others.
Hi-Rez has joined a growing list of developers who have reduced their workforce this week. The studio has followed similar actions by other developers like Iron Galaxy, ProbablyMonsters, and 31st Union.
