Hi-Rez Studios

Hi-Rez Studios

Company type	Private
Industry	Video games
Founded	2005 (2005)
Founder	Todd Harris, Erez Goren
Headquarters	Alpharetta, Georgia , United States
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Todd Harris, Erez Goren
Products	Global Agenda, Tribes: Ascend, Smite, Paladins, Rogue Company
Number of employees	450+
Website	www.hirezstudios.com

Hi-Rez Studios is a U.S.-based developer and publisher of video games, established in 2005 by Todd Harris and Erez Goren. Their catalog features team-oriented shooter Global Agenda, the well-received Tribes: Ascend, the third-person MOBA Smite, the hero shooter Paladins, and the third-person shooter Rogue Company. In 2012, Game Developer Magazine and Gamasutra recognized Hi-Rez as one of the Top 30 Video-Game Developers. The company holds the rights to the Metaltech franchise, which includes games such as Starsiege and the Tribes series, many of which were released as freeware in 2015.

History

Todd Harris and Erez Goren founded Hi-Rez Studios in 2005, assembling a team of seasoned developers with backgrounds in prominent titles like City of Heroes, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, and Call of Duty. Currently, the company employs more than 450 individuals across its offices located in Alpharetta, Georgia; Seattle; and Brighton, UK. In August 2018, Hi-Rez restructured into four distinct studios: Titan Forge (responsible for Smite), Evil Mojo (focused on Paladins), Heroic Leap (initially handling Realm Royale, later integrated into Evil Mojo), and Alacrity Arthouse (providing centralized art services).

In 2019, Hi-Rez broadened its UK operations by establishing Red Beard Games within its Brighton facility.

Games developed

Year	Title	Platform(s)	Notes
2010	Global Agenda	Microsoft Windows	Servers discontinued in 2018; reactivated in 2022
2012	Tribes: Ascend	Microsoft Windows	Development halted July 2013; resumed December 2015; last update September 29, 2016
2014	Smite	Windows, macOS, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch	Closed beta started in 2012
2016	Jetpack Fighter	iOS, Android	Removed from digital stores by 2019
2017	Smite Rivals	Windows, iOS, Android	Beta released January 2017; project cancelled March 2017
2018	Hand of the Gods: Smite Tactics	Windows, Xbox One, PlayStation 4	Servers shut down January 1, 2020
	Paladins Strike	iOS, Android	Servers closed late 2020
	Paladins	Windows, macOS, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch
	Realm Royale	Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch	Servers terminated February 17, 2025
2019	Smite Blitz	iOS, Android	Developed jointly with Stoneskin Games; soft launch September 2019; servers closed October 2020
2020	Rogue Company	Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5
	Prophecy	Windows	Early Access May 2020; shut down June 29, 2020; created under Hi-Rez license by former Hi-Rez team Prophecy Games
2022	Divine Knockout	Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5	Servers closed February 17, 2025
2024	Smite 2	Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Steam Deck

Global Agenda

Global Agenda debuted on February 1, 2010, as a team-oriented online game. By April 2011, it became Steam’s inaugural free-to-play offering, featuring Elite and Free Agents alongside an in-game store selling Agenda Points.

Tribes Universe

Developed by Hi-Rez Studios, Tribes Universe was a multiplayer arena shooter rooted in the Tribes franchise. The project was unveiled on October 23, 2010, shortly after Hi-Rez acquired the Tribes intellectual property from InstantAction. However, development ceased as the studio redirected efforts toward Tribes: Ascend.

Tribes: Ascend

Part of the Tribes lineup, Tribes: Ascend is a free-to-play, multiplayer-exclusive first-person shooter. Announced at PAX East on March 11, 2011, by Hi-Rez Studios and released on April 12, 2012, it achieved a metascore of 86 and was ranked eighth in PC Gamer’s all-time best shooters list. The game preserved signature mechanics such as jetpacks and skiing from earlier entries. On July 12, 2013, Hi-Rez representative Todd Harris confirmed the cessation of ongoing support.

Smite

Smite is a free-to-play third-person MOBA accessible on Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and OS X platforms. Players assume control of mythological gods who engage in arena battles utilizing distinctive abilities and coordinated team strategies. Hi-Rez Studios introduced Smite at PAX East on April 21, 2011; its closed beta launched May 31, 2012, followed by an open beta on January 24, 2013. The beta phase amassed over 74 million hours of gameplay and fostered a robust competitive scene. Hi-Rez further supported the title through LAN and online tournaments with monetary rewards.

The official launch took place on March 25, 2014, targeting North America and Western Europe for PC users. Subsequent releases expanded to Xbox One on August 19, 2015; PlayStation 4 on May 31, 2016; and Nintendo Switch on February 19, 2019. The game's availability across multiple platforms combined with its esports emphasis has been instrumental in enhancing Hi-Rez Studios' position and growth within the competitive gaming sector.

Paladins

Paladins is a free-to-play online team shooter where players choose from champions categorized into four roles: Damage, Support, Flank, and Front Line. It incorporates a card system that allows for pre-configured loadouts to boost abilities and statistics, alongside purchasable in-match item upgrades using credits earned during play. Announced on August 5, 2015, it entered open beta and early access via Steam on September 16, 2016.

Rogue Company

Developed by First Watch Games, Rogue Company is a free-to-play multiplayer third-person shooter that began closed beta testing in June 2020 across Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows through the Epic Games Store. Featuring cross-platform gameplay and progression support, it aligns with Hi-Rez Studios’ strategy to broaden its presence across both console and PC markets.

Jetpack Fighter

Jetpack Fighter is a free-to-play fast-paced mobile platform game that debuted on iOS in January 2016 and later became available on Android in July 2016. The title garnered widespread critical praise, achieving an 83 metascore and earning the distinction of Apple Best New Game, enhancing the company's lineup of mobile offerings.

Divine Knockout

Developed by Red Beard Games in Brighton, Divine Knockout (DKO) is a third-person platform fighting game. Following a closed alpha phase in early 2022, it officially launched on December 6, 2022, across multiple platforms including PC (Steam and Epic), Xbox One and Series X|S, as well as PlayStation 4 and 5. A collaboration with PlayStation featured the Founders Edition as part of PlayStation Plus for December 2022. Although cross-platform play was supported at launch, ongoing development was discontinued, with server shutdown planned for February 17, 2025.

External links

• Official website