Update:
Hi-Rez Studios has announced Smite 2 for Xbox, and while the YouTube trailer only mentions Xbox Series X, the Xbox store has the game down as launching on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC.
Become a god and wage war in SMITE 2, the Unreal Engine 5-powered sequel to the legendary third-person action MOBA. If you love rewarding teamwork, challenging competition, intense action, ability-driven third-person combat, or godly mythology, you’ll see why 40+ million players love SMITE.
Built using Unreal Engine 5, Smite 2 features a "diverse roster of gods," all updated in Unreal Engine 5. Whether or not Hi-Rez will be bringing all of the current gods over for the sequel is unknown, but according to a post on X, many returning favorites will include upgraded animations, FX, and abilities. There will also be more "godlike impact, strategy, and creativity than ever before."
We're yet to find out a release date, but a closed alpha test will be taking place sometime in "spring 2024," so you could have a chance to play it for yourself soon.
Original story:
Hi-Rez Studios' MOBA, Smite, has been a popular free-to-play game for players on Xbox since its arrival on the platform in 2015, and now it seems that a sequel could arrive later this year after Steam referenced Smite 2.
As shared by NIMARSs on Reddit, the Russian Steam client looks to have leaked Smite 2 via what appears to be a news story, ahead of any planned announcement from developer Hi-Rez Studios. The leak, as well as various rumors and mentions of the potential game, has prompted dataminers to dig around the current Smite game files to see if they could find anything hidden away, and it looks like one website has had some success.
According to Smite Datamining, mention of a Smite 2 Founders Pack has been unearthed within the current Smite files. According to the site, the pack will be available with patch 11.3, which rolls out during Smite's Birthday event around March 25.
On top of that, it looks like a reveal could happen as early as Sunday, January 12, as players have spotted an uncommon gap in the Smite World Championship schedule.
As posted by Planoraider1291 on Reddit, the schedule shows a "TBA" gap on Sunday, which is usually reserved for an announcement for Smite's next season, but that has been scheduled for Saturday 11 with the Year 11 Update Show. Could that be when Hi-Rez will reveal Smite 2? Many players think so, and with the latest information, it certainly seems possible.
While we wait for the potential reveal of Smite 2, why not check out some of the best free Xbox games while you wait? Smite is joined by a broad range of genres on the list, so there should be something for everyone in there.