Realm Royale Reforged Set to Shut Down

Hi-Rez Studios has announced that Realm Royale Reforged, its battle royale game, will cease operations on February 17, 2025. This news comes shortly after Hi-Rez CEO Stewart Chisam disclosed plans for significant layoffs as part of a broader internal reorganization within the studio.

In a recent post on X, Chisam explained that these layoffs resulted from a "comprehensive review" of the studio's "strategy and operations." This evaluation led Hi-Rez to concentrate its efforts primarily on Smite 2, the latest addition to their third-person MOBA lineup. Chisam also indicated that only Smite 1 and Paladins would continue to receive ongoing support, making the end of support for other live-service games like Realm Royale Reforged somewhat expected. The game will officially shut down at 12 PM EDT on February 17, 2025, and will be removed from digital storefronts at that time.

Divine Knockout Also Closing

Realm Royale Reforged isn’t the only title facing closure; Divine Knockout, a 3D platform fighter from Hi-Rez, will also have its servers shut down on February 17, 2025, at 12 PM EDT. Although Divine Knockout never reached the same player numbers as Realm Royale, its closure is still disappointing for fans. Similar to Realm Royale, the game will be delisted from digital platforms upon the shutdown, making it unavailable for download.

With the closures of Realm Royale Reforged and Divine Knockout, Hi-Rez Studios will be left with four active live-service titles: Smite, Smite 2, Paladins, and Rogue Company. While Chisam’s post confirmed that the first three games will continue to receive varying updates, there was no mention of Rogue Company, raising concerns that it may also face shutdown.

Currently, Rogue Company maintains a slightly larger player base on Steam compared to the games being retired. It has a 24-hour peak of over 500 players, while Realm Royale Reforged has just above 300, and Divine Knockout has under 50. Although this player count may not be sufficient to guarantee Rogue Company's future, it might provide enough incentive for Hi-Rez to keep the tactical shooter’s servers operational beyond February.