Summary
- Smite 2, the sequel to Smite, is being built using Unreal Engine 5 and will have closed alpha testing in spring 2024.
- Smite players can expect cross-play functionality across multiple platforms, but most skins will not be available in Smite 2.
- Legacy Gems and Divine Legacy will be introduced in Smite 2 to honor players' efforts and offer rewards for progress made in both games.
Hi-Rez Studios revealed Smite 2, the sequel to its third-person MOBA Smite, and confirmed that the upcoming title was built using Unreal Engine 5. Smite 2 was revealed nearly a decade after the full release of Smite, and Hi-Rez Studios answered a few questions that players had concerning how their efforts and unlocks from Smite would carry over into Smite 2.
In Smite, players assume the mantle of various gods and mythological figures in team-based battles. Based on real-world pantheons, including Greek mythology, each deity in Smite is assigned different combat roles, such as ranged or melee damage. At the time of writing, Smite currently has 129 playable gods for players to pick from, with the Japanese yokai Bake Kujira being the most recent addition to the roster as a Guardian. Though Smite is a free-to-play title, unlocking heroes requires the use of in-game currencies such as "Favor" or "Gems" that can be earned via normal gameplay, or by microtransactions made on storefronts such as Steam and the PlayStation Store, depending on the player's chosen way of accessing Smite.
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Smite players will soon have another way of playing the third-person MOBA they enjoy. Smite 2 is an Unreal Engine 5 title that will have closed alpha testing in the spring of 2024. Interested players are encouraged to sign up in advance, as Hi-Rez stated that alpha access to Smite 2 will be done via an email containing an access code for the platform of their choice. According to Hi-Rez Studios, the technical debt accrued from making Smite in Unreal Engine 3 was a major reason why a rebuild was necessary. Hi-Rez added that Smite 2 is in a pre-alpha state and that a limited roster of gods will be available during alpha testing. Smite will continue to be supported for the foreseeable future alongside Smite 2.
Smite 2 will have cross-play functionality across PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and the Steam Deck, though cross-progression depends on partner approval. However, the transition to Smite 2 will have some caveats, as most skins from Smite will not be available in Smite 2. Hi-Rez added that Legacy Gems and Divine Legacy will be a way to honor Smite players for their efforts. Legacy Gems will cover 50% of most in-game purchases in Smite 2, and Divine Legacy will track progress made in Smite to offer rewards in both games.
Due to its unique take on the genre and its fast-paced gameplay, Smite is still considered one of the top MOBAs available. Only time will tell how Smite 2 will compare to its predecessor.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 81 /100 Critics Rec: 82%
- Released
- March 25, 2014
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Violence, Blood, Partial Nudity, Drug Reference, Use of Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Hi-Rez Studios, Titan Forge Games
- Publisher(s)
- Hi-Rez Studios
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 3
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op, Online Multiplayer
- Cross-Platform Play
- PC, PS4 & Xbox One
WHERE TO PLAY
Enter the Battleground of the Gods.
100+ Gods: Unleash each deity’s unique strategies, legendary weapons, and earth-shattering powers. Rain lightning down upon your foes as Zeus, assassinate from the shadows as Loki, or transform and trick your foes as the Monkey King, Sun Wukong. Which God will you choose?
Unique Perspective: Unlike other MOBAs, SMITE puts you directly onto the battlefield with a third-person action viewpoint. From blind-side ambushes to aimed shots, a new pantheon of strategic possibilities awaits.
Become Godlike: Never played a battle arena before? Don’t worry. Auto-buy, auto-level, and the deathmatch-like Arena mode let you jump right into divine MOBA action. Aspiring pro? Top the ladders, join a competitive team, and you too could be playing at the SMITE World Championship.
