Hi-Rez Studios

News Summary:

On March 31, 2026, David Schulman will speak at the ARLA Esports Showcase hosted at Georgia State University, participating as a featured panelist on a session titled "The Journey of Hi-Rez Studios and the Game Development Scene of Georgia." Previously, in late 2025, the open beta for *SMITE 2* continued to add characters and battle passes, having initially committed to a weekly character release schedule until August. This followed challenges earlier in the year when the studio experienced a round of layoffs and saw major leadership changes. Specifically, on June 2, 2025, Hi-Rez Studios confirmed its third round of layoffs within a year, impacting executive leadership, including then-studio president Stewart Chisam, rather than members of the development team. The following day, on June 3, 2025, the company clarified these cuts focused on senior management positions, citing an excess of senior management relative to its current size, less than six months after an earlier round of layoffs affected an estimated 70 people.