Several Hi-Rez Studios developers and designers took to social media to share their experiences after being laid off following a company reorganization.
The layoffs come amid a shift in strategy for the company’s latest title, ‘Smite 2,’ which went free-to-play on January 14, 2025, marking its transition into the beta phase.
Among those sharing their stories was designer Ryan Bailey, who posted a heartfelt message on X (formerly Twitter), reflecting on the impact the layoffs had on the team.
Other members of the Hi-Rez community, including esports players and fans, expressed their frustration and concern over the company’s decision to cut staff during such a critical time in ‘Smite 2’s development.
I’m so proud of what we made. Thank you to everyone I knew at HiRez & the ability to work on games I loved.
I’m looking forward to new opportunities to bring my skills as a game designer or CM to a new project and bring even more joy to players.
Info: https://t.co/1pciCizgKA pic.twitter.com/wYSYJL2pBK
— Kryptek | V (@KryptekDev) February 6, 2025
CEO Stewart Chisam announced the layoffs as part of a broader strategy to ensure Hi-Rez’s long-term success. Chisam emphasized that the cuts were primarily focused on marketing, publishing, and cosmetic content creation, with some roles within the Evil Mojo, G&A, and Titan Forge divisions also affected. The company is now prioritizing gameplay development for ‘Smite 2’ over the previously planned focus on cosmetics and monetization.
@ every single person in esports/production/hirez,
Ty for being such a big part of my life and creating a ton of memories I’ll never forget. Sorry seeing everyone go through this, it came so far the past year..
So many talented people, hope everyone finds brighter homes soon ❤️
— Michael Heiss (@PBMsmite) February 6, 2025
While many fans and developers supported the move to prioritize gameplay, others were upset, questioning whether these layoffs could hurt the game’s future. ‘Smite 2’ had received mixed reviews since its early access launch, with player numbers dropping significantly.
Despite these concerns, Hi-Rez remains hopeful that the changes will help position ‘Smite 2’ for long-term success.