Hi-Rez Studios Reportedly Laid Off “Dozens” From Smite Dev Team

Summary

• Hi-Rez Studios laid off nearly 30 Smite team members, impacting QA, Esports, and production departments.
• Job cuts were not announced by Hi-Rez, leaving Smite’s future uncertain amidst continued layoffs.
• Despite improvements in Smite 2, the latest round of layoffs adds to an already challenging year for game developers.

While Smite 2 was just released last month, it seems all is not well with the developers, as a new report has surfaced stating Hi-Rez Studios has laid off staff members of the Smite development team.

According to the report by Game Developer, “dozens” of developers from the Smite team have been impacted, with the developers sharing their predicament on social media.

Smite Development Team Hit With Job Cuts

So far, nearly 30 Hi-Rez Studios employees have been given the pink slip, with various sectors of the Smite team affected. Based on the Reddit thread where the job cuts are compiled, people from QA, Esports and production departments were laid off.

Hi-Rez has not made any announcements regarding the job cuts, which leaves the game’s future in doubt. At the time this article went live, the company had not responded to a comment inquiry regarding the matter.

In October 2024, Hi-Rez also laid off workers, with the cosmetic and system teams across its various divisions affected.

If you’re unfamiliar with Smite 2, it’s the sequel to 2014’s Smite, and it’s a free-to-play, third-person MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) built on Unreal Engine 5, and is available on PC and consoles.

Last month, we ran our hands-on impressions of Smite 2 where it states, “I came away with the impression that the sequel is Smite with a new, shiny coat of paint. The visual advancements are obvious, with more detailed character models, sleeker environments and most visually impressive of all, new effects for abilities.”

While unconfirmed, the latest round of Hi-Rez layoffs adds to the already-stacked pile—and we’re just in February.

Ubisoft has confirmed the closure of one of its UK studios, and Bandai Namco Entertainment has quietly laid off over 100 staff members. It’s been a rough start of the year for video game developers, as we’ve already lost count how many jobs have been affected across the entire industry.