Hi-Rez Studios is the company behind the free-to-play third-person multiplayer online battle arena game Smite. Developed by Hi-Rez Studios, the game is available for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and the Amazon Luna. It has been ranked as one of the top games of 2018.
Hi-Rez studios
There’s a lot of hype surrounding Hi-Rez Studios, the company behind Smite. It’s a privately held video game company founded in 2005 by Erez Goren and Todd Harris. It’s currently the most popular MMORPG on the market, but there’s a lot to know about the company before deciding whether it’s worth your time. Below are some of the most important facts about the company and what you should know about them.
Hi-Rez Studios is a games-as-a-service company with a massive audience. Their multiplayer games are known for creating large, inclusive communities. Games like SMITE are no exception. This free-to-play multiplayer online battle arena has over 35 million players worldwide. Players choose from various mythical characters and engage in team-based battles. So whether you join the ranks of the most powerful faction or make your group, Smite has a place for you.
One of the most important things about Hi-Rez Studios is how they make games. The company was founded by Erez Goren and Todd Harris in 2005 and employed over 450 people in Atlanta, Seattle, and Brighton. Hi-Rez Studios branched out into four different studios in August 2018:
- Titan Forge is responsible for the development of SMITE.
- Evil Mojo is responsible for Paladins.
- Heroic Leap is responsible for Realm Royale.
One of Hi-Rez studios’ other projects is the mobile game Cluckers. As its name suggests, chickens will play a major role in this game. Hi-Rez sub-studio Pot Pie Games is bringing the game to mobile users. It will be available on Android and iOS soon. Hi-Rez has already released several other titles in Smite since their initial release. They’ve made it a hit with a new IP that perfectly fits the gaming community.
Hi-Rez studios’ plans for Smite
Hi-Rez Studios is a free-to-play game publisher, and they have big plans for Smite in the coming years. During the Hi-Rez Showcase, a conference held yearly; the developer announced the upcoming content for three of its IPs: SMITE, Rogue Company, and Paladins. The company expects to keep the game’s core fans engaged with new content, seasonal updates, new maps, and more as they celebrate the tenth anniversary of Smite.
Season 8 of SMITE, titled “The Dawn of Babylon,” will feature a new conquest map and a pantheon of ancient Babylonian gods, including Tiamat and Gilgamesh. The game has always been known for its colorful characters, and this season will include new additions. This game even featured a crossover with Avatar the Last Airbender, featuring Smite characters and skins.
One of Hi-Rez’s new releases is Rogue Company, which has more than fifteen million players worldwide. The studio also plans to introduce four new seasons of content, which will feature new characters and maps. In addition, Hi-Rez has said that each season will feature a new event and new characters. The next season will also feature new modes and characters, sure to please fans of all ages and skill levels.
A major update will be coming to Smite in 2021, featuring new champions. This update will include event passes, quality-of-life improvements, and limited-time content. The team also said that it plans to release four seasons of new content for Smite in 2021, and they intend to make them as exciting as possible. And they also plan to roll out more frequent updates for the game.
While Hi-Rez is known for building off existing formulas, they also added some original ideas. This is evident in Smite, which is similar to League of Legends. Similarly, Hi-Rez plans to make it easier for players to move around the game. In addition, they want players to be able to use the touchscreen controller, and this will enable more interaction. And it will be easier to manage a team of players.
Hi-Rez studios’ plans for Realm Royale
The future of Realm Royale is uncertain. Despite a positive reception among fans, the game has been dormant for a while. However, Hi-Rez Studios recently announced three new development studios, each focusing on a specific game. Titan Forge Games will focus on the MOBA Smite, Evil Mojo Games on the team-based shooter Paladins, and Heroic Leap Games on the battle royale Realm Royale. The developers have no plans to release the second season of Realm Royale but are looking into the possibility of expanding the game’s community.
The new studios may be making changes to their development process. This will allow them to create their unique vision for the game, as Fortnite is difficult to imitate. By giving developers more autonomy, Hi-Rez may be able to make Realm Royale more appealing to fans and convince them to come back to play it. If you’re a game fan, it could become an important force in the esports scene.
Another big change for the game is the addition of cross-play. Hi-Rez Studios is planning to bring cross-play to three free-to-play games, including Realm Royale. This feature will initially be available for Xbox One, but it will also be available on PlayStation 4. But the studios are working with platform providers to ensure that cross-platform play is seamless and enjoyable.
Cross-play support is one of the biggest concerns regarding the future of cross-play in PC and console games. In the past, input-based matchmaking has been a concern with MMOs, but Hi-Rez Studios said it would leave this up to the player. For example, smite and Paladins mix players regardless of the input device, but they will let players choose which one they want to use. For ranked matches, however, input will be an issue.
Nintendo’s YouTube channel has revealed a new Realm Royale trailer. While this trailer shows that the game won’t work with the Founder’s Pack, it clearly indicates that Realm Royale is coming to the Switch shortly. If the game is coming to the Switch, it’s not too late to make a purchase. However, a new alpha pack will be released soon, so expect more details soon.
Hi-Rez studios’ plans for Paladins
During the Hi-Rez Showcase this year, Hi-Rez announced new developments for their upcoming game, Paladins. Several major changes are expected, including visual updates, overhauled mechanics, and a brand new champion. In the future, the game will include new content, frequent updates, and new LTEs. The first of the new champions is Yagorath, which will be available on January 16th, 2022.
The game’s map rework is already underway, much like Fortnite’s Chapter 3 map reinvention. The intention is to make the game more modern while updating the lore and gameplay. As a result, players should look forward to a significant improvement over previous maps. But for now, the game’s switch port is solid. However, if the upcoming changes are any indication, Paladins might be worth playing in 2021.
Besides making the game more competitive, Paladins also includes a new mode called Siege. This model is the game’s most popular competitive mode and will see many changes in the next two years. It also will get a brand-new item shop and more. Despite being in beta, the game is already a big hit amongst gamers, and Hi-Rez studios are looking to make it into a massive eSport. This is not surprising since Hi-Rez has experience with SMITE’s eSports community.
The game has been one of the most popular titles on the Nintendo Switch, and many gamers are anxious to see more of it. Both Smite and Paladins are free-to-play first-person shooters. During its Early Access period on Steam, the game had over 100,000 new accounts. As of this writing, Paladins has over five million active players. Hi-Rez studios are also planning to port one of their popular MOBA games to the Nintendo Switch but did not say which one.
Along with these updates, the game will also get its 30th character, Jenos, the Ascended. This supporting character will be introduced along with a new Splitstone Quarry map. The game also added Octavia, a long-range support character. Hi-Rez has also announced a cinematic trailer for Gilgamesh, the ancient King of Uruk. The game is expected to be out in Q4 or earlier and will feature several new characters.