Hi-Rez Studios has undergone another round of layoffs as part of a company-wide shift to a smaller team. What’s surprising is that instead of trimming down the developers working on Smite 2, they mostly let go of senior management. That’s unusual for the industry and has sparked a mixed but mostly positive reaction from fans.
Former CEO Stew Chisam, Executive Producer Travis Brown, and another senior staff member known as Radar were among those laid off, confirmed by Killgoon (Alex Cantatore), the new lead of the Smite 2 team at Titan Forge.
After a former Hi-Rez dev leaked the news on Twitter, Killgoon responded publicly on Reddit to explain what’s happening. The board felt the company had too many senior managers for its current size, so they made the tough call to reduce that part of the team. He reassured fans that this doesn’t impact the core team working directly on Smite 2.
“We will keep focusing on improving the core game and the new player experience,” Killgoon said, “while continuing to add new Gods at the current rate of one every two weeks.” He also mentioned it was his choice not to make a big public announcement, letting those affected share their own statements first.
Killgoon expressed confidence in Smite 2’s future, saying they’re getting closer to having a solid core game and can now shift attention to growth. “We get better every day and believe there’s plenty of room to grow,” he added.
Stew Chisam posted on LinkedIn, reflecting on the challenges Hi-Rez has faced recently. He acknowledged that not everything went as hoped but took pride in the studio’s distinct position as a mid-sized games-as-a-service pioneer fighting against industry giants. He praised the remaining team and expressed confidence in their success.
Travis Brown was also laid off, who played a key role in Smite 2’s vision and had been with the company for nearly 20 years. His departure marks the end of an era at Hi-Rez.
On Reddit, fans seem surprisingly upbeat about these changes. Many blamed previous leadership for poor decisions affecting older multiplayer games, so they’re hopeful that this shake-up brings positive change. One user exclaimed, “NO MORE STEW HOLY SHT LETS F*KING GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” while another promised to jump back into Smite 2 if Stew’s truly gone.
Possible Major Shakeup In Leadership
byu/YeehawTexMex inSmite
Despite Smite 2 not being a Steam powerhouse, it still pulls around 6,000 peak players daily, and with most players on consoles, there’s still a chance for the game to grow.
What do you think about these layoffs and the future of Smite 2? Drop your thoughts in the comments below—I’m curious if you feel this move might actually help the game or if it’s a worrying sign.
