Hi-Rez Shakes Things Up: Developers Laid Off and Three Games Cease Development
By Image courtesy of Hi-Rez Studios.
Update (2/6/2025): According to a Discord message discovered by Dexerto (originally shared by X user Hocky2001), Hi-Rez is halting development on its primary titles, Smite, Paladins, and Rogue Company.
Smite 2 is the central focus of Hi-Rez’s “newly streamlined operations,” although it has been reported that some developers on this project have also been let go. The public announcement further stated that the three older titles will remain playable for the foreseeable future, even while “no significant updates are currently in the works.”
Hayzer, a Smite contracted creator, also indicates that the layoffs have affected between 50 and 60 developers. As of this moment, Hi-Rez has not responded to our request for comment.
Original report: Smite and Realm Royale developer Hi-Rez Studios appears to have conducted layoffs this week. Nearly 30 employees (at the time of writing) have reported being affected on social media, and their messages have been compiled into a single Reddit megathread.
Details regarding the extent of the layoffs have not yet been revealed. According to Gaming World’s Jake Lucky, these cuts are “substantial” and seem to mostly impact the Smite team, who are working on the sequel Smite 2.
Hi-Rez previously laid off staff in October 2024, concentrating on the design and system development teams across its various subsidiaries. This latest round seems broader in scope: producers, designers, programmers, and esports commentators are among those impacted.
In the wake of last year’s layoffs, CEO Stewart Chisam stated that the studio had reduced staff to ensure Smite 2’s long-term viability. Chisam’s X account has since been deleted, and as of now, no announcement regarding today’s layoffs has been published on LinkedIn or other platforms.
This makes Hi-Rez the latest developer to implement staff cuts this week, following in the footsteps of ProbablyMonsters, Iron Galaxy, and Thirty First Union.
Game Developer has reached out to Hi-Rez for a statement and will provide updates upon receiving a response.
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Contributing Editor, GameDeveloper.com
A native of Kansas City, MO, Justin Carter has contributed to numerous websites including IGN, Polygon, and SyFy Wire. In addition to Game Developer, his writing can also be found at io9 over on Gizmodo. Don’t ask him about how much gum he’s had, as the answer might be more than he’s willing to share.