Hi-Rez Studios cuts staff again, ceasing active support for SMITE and Paladins

SMITE 2 developer Hi-Rez Studios has carried out another wave of layoffs affecting several dozen employees in various departments, including eSports and development. This is the second layoff in the last four months.

Here's What We Know

The layoffs reportedly affected at least 20 employees, including designers, producers, and esports specialists. These events took place against the backdrop of SMITE 2's transition to a free-to-play model in January 2025.

Additionally, Hi-Rez Studios announced that it will cease active support for games such as SMITE, Paladins , and Rogue Company to focus on SMITE 2. The servers of these games will remain active, but no new major updates are planned.

Earlier, in October 2024, the company had already made staff reductions as part of an "internal reorganisation and reprioritisation". At that time, CEO Stewart Chisam called the decision "necessary for the long-term success of the company".

Source: Reddit