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Gamescom 2014: SMITE heading for the Xbox One
Has your purchase of a next-gen console been reliant on finding out which one of them will get a MOBA on it? Your wait is now over. SMITE is set to launch on the Xbox One via the platform's ID@Xbox program at some point in 2015, as announced today during the Xbox Gamescom event. No specific dates have yet been announced for the port. COO Todd Harris stated that the game's third-person viewpoint makes it a natural fit to control with a console gamepad rather than a mouse and keyboard, leading to an easy conversion. Details of how the program will work with online connectivity and the possibility of requiring an Xbox Live subscription have not yet been revealed (unsurprisingly, since the program was only just announced). Keep your eyes peeled for more information through the tail end of the year, since the launch won't be happening until 2015. [Thanks to Sorenthaz for the tip!]
An influx of Xbox One indies: Superhot, Goat Simulator [UPDATE: Many trailers added!]
Microsoft's indie development initiative, ID@Xbox, is bringing in a bunch of games to launch first on console on Xbox One, including Superhot, Goat Simulator, Dungeon of the Endless, No Time to Explain and Smite. Peek the full list of games ID@Xbox head Chris Charla announced during the Xbox Gamescom press conference below:
SMITE reworks Nu Wa, adds treasure boxes
SMITE got a bit of rework this week, with new skins, a new Zeus model, and a complete update of Nu Wa headlining the changes. Hi-Rez also added RNG treasure boxes to its fantasy/mythology MOBA as well as several tweaks to custom game functionality. View the complete update notes via the links below, and don't forget to have a look at the new skins video after the break. [Thanks Sorenthaz!]
SMITE showcases Serqet, Goddess of Venom
Hi-Rez Studios has just unveiled Serqet, Goddess of Venom, the latest playable deity to join SMITE's pantheon of characters. Serqet is based on the Egyptian goddess responsible for curing poisons, but this version of Serqet also dishes out venom with her nasty scorpion tail and then consumes those poison DoTs for additional damage and debuffs via her Catalyst passive. The new character joins the game tomorrow. Enjoy the lengthy character introduction video below!
SMITE announces world championships for 2015
Are you the best SMITE player in the world? Are you sure about that? If so, maybe you should go ahead and take part in the SMITE World Championships. The company has just announced that the championship tournament will take place January 9th to 11th, 2015, along with qualifier dates for North America and Europe, all of which can be found just past the break. Players will be competing for a grand prize of $600,000, a pool which is expected to grow over the next half-year in the lead-in to the event. You can check out the official e-sports site for the game to find out how to register your team and try to make it into the big leagues, or just check out the trailer below. Maybe you just like to spectate, after all. It's cool.
SMITE claims four million players since launch
In a new interview with RedBull.com this week, Hi-Rez Studios COO Todd Harris revealed that since SMITE's launch last March, both the MOBA's dev team and its player population are on the rise. In fact, he says, the game has become so profitable that Hi-Rez has "double[d] the size of [its] studio." At the game's release in late March, we were at three million players, and we are now well over four million. We are not on Steam, but comparing to Steam stats, SMITE would sit around number 10 to 12 in terms of popularity and daily players. Most importantly to us, the playing population has increased every month since the start of the Beta. [...] Our players are currently 45 percent Europe, 40 percent North America, 10 percent South America and five percent other. Harris drops a few other bits of trivia, including the fact that SMITE's original sci-fi IP was based on the studio's MMOFPS Global Agenda, but the mythology theme was deemed more "compelling." [With thanks to keen-eyed tipster Sorenthaz!]
SMITE virtually incarnates Rama and updates Ra for the 4th of July
Hi-Rez Studios has today revealed the latest playable deity in its MOBA SMITE: Rama, The 7th Avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu. True to legend, Rama is an archer whose magical bow and arrows combine for skills like Astral Quiver, Astral Strike, Pick Me Up, Rolling Assault, and Astral Barrage. But that isn't why you clicked on this article. You clicked because of the eagle. Yes, the team has also implemented new skins for characters, including one for Ra, who can now be skinned as the patriotic, firework-wielding bald eagle Ra'merica because why not? "For each sale of this skin, $2 will be donated to the American Red Cross," noted Hi-Rez blandly, as if that obviated the insanity. We've included Rama's and Ra's videos below. [With thanks to tipster Sorenthaz!]
SMITE patch introduces Footballer skins and Hercules revamp
In honor of the upcoming FIFA World Cup, this week's SMITE patch will feature two new football- (soccer-) themed skins for X'balanque: the Jaguar Footballer and Football Star 2014. If you buy the Jaguar Footballer skin before July 12, you get the Football Star 2014 skin for free. In addition, a makeover is in store for Hercules, Champion of Rome. A new official video showcases Hercules' lore, abilities, and gameplay strategies. Check it out, along with one showing off the new X'balanque skins, just after the cut below. [Thanks to Soren for the tip!]
SMITE packs its bags for Latin America and Brazil
SMITE will be coming to Latin America and Brazil, Hi-Rez Studios announced today. Hi-Rez has teamed up with publisher Level Up to release the MOBA in Central and South America. There are no dates for this release as of yet, but the beta will begin in that region later this year after the localization has been completed. Players from those countries who have accounts on a NA or EU server will be allowed to transfer to Level Up servers at that time. Teams from Latin America and Brazil have been invited to participate in the SMITE World Championship in January 2015. [Thanks to Soren for the tip!]
SMITE makes all gods playable this weekend
Let it not be said that SMITE discriminates between deities. Forsooth, this weekend the MOBA will be unlocking all of its gods for players to play for free. The "Ultimate God Weekend" starts today and runs through Monday, June 2nd. It even includes the brand-new god Janus as a playable selection. [Thanks to Soren for the tip!]
SMITE's newest addition is Janus, the god of portals and transitions
Hi-Rez is busily adding more stuff to SMITE, and this week's update will include the new god Janus, a revamped Mountain Man Odin skin, new ward skins, and a Team Solomid Apollo skin in honor of SMITE's launch tourney victors. Janus is the god of portals and transitions, and you can learn all about him in the clip after the cut. [Thanks Soren!]
May SMITE's odds be doubled in your favor this weekend
SMITE's odds may not be ever in your favor, but at least they are this weekend thanks to a double favor event. Hi-Rez is also gifting players with 10 free cash shop gems for every first win of the day. The promotion, when paired with SMITE's numerous game modes, means that "there are tons of gems to be earned this weekend" on top of the double favor for each game played. [Thanks Soren!]
SMITE launches Siege patch tomorrow
It's time for a big SMITE patch tomorrow, and when we say it's big, we mean it. It's adding a whole new deity, which is substantial, but it's also adding in a brand-new map. The Siege patch includes the eponymous Siege map, a two-lane 5v5 affair in which both teams spawn powerful siege units in the quest to take out the enemy base. There's also the addition of Osiris, a melee warrior using his sickle and thresher to deal area damage and phase into a specialized spirit form. That's not all the patch includes, either; there are also new skins for existing gods and the new league system, which divides players into six tiers of five divisions each. Victories earn points toward the next division, but these points are reset on a regular basis, ensuring that players need to keep playing and perform well against similarly skilled players to advance. Take a look at the full patch overview, watch Osiris' reveal video past the break, and get ready for the patch going live tomorrow.
SMITE to offer new Nemesis ninja skin
Do you enjoy playing Nemesis in SMITE? Do you ever find yourself thinking that you'd much rather be playing the Greek personification of vengeance if she were dressed up like a Japanese ninja for no adequately explained reason other than the fact that ninjas are cool? Well, you're going to get your remarkably specific wish with the next major SMITE patch. (If you had hoped to see her dressed up as a Portugese milkmaid from the 16th century, we're afraid your pleas have gone unanswered.) So what does she look like in the new costume? We're glad you asked because otherwise you'd have no reason to click past the break and check out the video of the new Nemesis costume in action. So... you know, do exactly that. The patch is currently scheduled for early next week. [Source: Hi-Rez Studios press release]
SMITE unveils Bastet's 'Night Prowler' catsuit
Lest you think catgirls are the private domain of Asian and superhero games, Hi-Rez Studios has upgraded SMITE heroine Bastet with a brand-new "Night Prowler" skin that leaves neither curve nor tail to the imagination. For a small fee, you can ensure that your version of the Egyptian goddess of cats does all of her ass-kicking in a black leather catsuit, just as the Ancient Egyptians would have wanted it. We've got the video after the break. You're going to go click on it now. [Source: Hi-Rez press release]
SMITE brings out the Hindu god Kumbhakarna
The Sleeping Giant, Kumbhakarna, is the latest god to enter into SMITE's cage match pantheon. This Hindu god might not be the most nimble or even the most awake, but he has power nevertheless. Kumbhakarna doesn't die when he hits zero hit points; he falls asleep and eventually wakes up at 25% health. He can also throw back enemies, root bad guys with a smash, and... yawn for a mez. You can check out his moves in the god reveal after the break. [Source: Hi-Rez press release]
SMITE now features Bastet, the Goddess of Cats
Hi-Rez has revealed its latest SMITE deity in a new five-minute video focusing on Bastet, the Goddess of Cats. The clip delves into Bastet's Egyptian lore, her passive and active abilities including Pounce, Razer Whip, and De-claw as well as her ultimate Cat Call. The clip also features plenty of in-game scenarios showing off said abilities, so click past the cut if you want a preview of Bastet in action. [Thanks Soren!]
SMITE launches today with new cinematic trailer
It's the official launch day for SMITE and Hi-Rez Studios is celebrating with a brand new cinematic that shows off a few of the game's MOBA gods in action. SMITE has been in open beta since January 24th, 2013 and has enjoyed a surge in popularity, making it Hi-Rez Studio's fastest-growing game to date. You can download the game for free from its main website and be sure to check out our extensive coverage of the game including videos and livestreams. Don't forget the cinematic trailer just after the jump.
SMITE brings out Ullr right before official release
The official launch of SMITE is just a few days away -- March 25th, to be specific. But there's still time to work in one more deity to the game's overall lineup. The last pre-launch patch has added Ullr, the Glorious One, a hunter capable of working in both melee and ranged combat with equal damage. Using his ultimate ability swaps stances, letting him attack with greater speed from range or steal life with his melee hits. Swapping between ranged and melee stances also shifts how Ullr's abilities work. Ranged mode allows him to fire a column of damage or use a targeted AoE along with a buff to physical damage. Melee mode, however, swaps abilities to a ranged attack, a leap to a target location, and a movement speed buff. The patch has also updated the physical models of several gods, meaning that when the game goes live next week, it'll be in the best state possible... and with one more god to play.
SMITE dredges Scylla from the depths
It's always the seemingly innocent ones. At a glance, SMITE's Scylla looks just like a pleasant little girl. It's only when you get into battle with her that she starts summoning her wolf-headed tentacles and you realize how inhuman she really is. Of course, you could also take Scylla for a spin yourself and learn to utilize her unassuming appearance and her varied snaring tactics to avoid being on the receiving end of a wolf-headed tentacle beatdown. Scylla's passive ability improves her magical power for each max rank ability as well as an additional effect on max rank abilities. Her skills allow her to snare targets, spawn sentry locations and teleport to them, and transform into a lethally powerful form with massive attack power for one attack. You can jump past the break to see Scylla's abilities in action and watch some of her most useful options in group play.
