Hi-Rez Announces Freemium Arena Game, Smite

Hi-Rez Studios has announced its own freemium arena-style online combat game, SMITE. Players in the game control one of a pantheon of ancient gods in team-based battles against other players and their computer-controlled minions. It’s another game seeking to compete with Riot Games’ successful League of Legends, which successfully transitioned DoTA (Defense of the Ancients) style RTS gameplay into an online game supported by a freemium business model. Another competitor is Petroglyph’s Rise of the Immortals.

“As a studio and as gamers, we love competitive multi-player games that reward teamwork and strategy,” said Todd Harris, COO of Hi-Rez Studios, in a press statement. “With SMITE, we draw inspiration from DoTA-style RTS titles, but leverage the Unreal 3 Engine to introduce original action oriented combat mechanics, great graphics, and a mythology-themed setting. These session-based games depend upon balanced class design, sophisticated stat-tracking, and matchmaking functionality. These are features we understand well from Global Agenda and our studio is excited to progress team-oriented PvP in new and original directions with SMITE.”

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