Hi-Rez axes three games and 50-60 devs to consolidate around Smite 2
Summary
Hi-Rez Studios has ended development on Smite 1, Paladins, and Rogue Company
50-60 developers laid off in the studio's second round of cuts within 4 months
All resources are being redirected toward Smite 2 as the sole focus
"No further major updates are currently planned"
01
Scope of layoffs
Second round of cuts follows an October 2024 layoff targeting cosmetic and system feature teams
Current round is broader — affecting producers, designers, programmers, and esports commentators
Estimated 50-60 developers impacted, per contract creator Hayzer
Nearly 30 affected employees self-disclosed on social media
Hi-Rez has not issued an official public statement at time of reporting
02
Three titles officially sunset
Smite 1, Paladins, and Rogue Company will no longer receive major updates
All three games remain playable for the foreseeable future
Decision framed as part of Hi-Rez's "newly streamlined operations"
Smite 2 developers were also reportedly impacted despite being the studio's stated priority
03
Leadership signals and context
CEO Stewart Chisam previously cited Smite 2's long-term success as justification for 2024 cuts
Chisam's X (Twitter) account has since been deleted
Hi-Rez joins ProbablyMonsters, Iron Galaxy, and 31st Union in cutting staff the same week
No LinkedIn statement or official comment issued by the company
04
What's next
Hi-Rez appears to be executing a single-game studio pivot centered entirely on Smite 2
The scale of cuts even within the Smite 2 team raises questions about development capacity going forward
Industry observers will be watching whether Smite 2 can sustain momentum with a significantly reduced team
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