SMITE 2 explains why the skins from the first game cannot be ported to the sequel, and reveals its plan for dealing with this decision.
Highlights
SMITE 2 won't allow players to transfer skins from the first game, as it would take a long time to develop.
Hi-Rez Studios made this "hard call" early in development to focus on other aspects of SMITE 2.
To compensate players, Hi-Rez introduced Legacy Gems and the Divine Legacy event to reward both SMITE and SMITE 2 players.
SMITE 2 has revealed that the skins from the first game cannot be ported to the sequel, as doing so would take 246 years, according to the developer. SMITE is one of the most iconic MOBAs ever produced and is back in the spotlight because of SMITE 2.
Launched in 2014 by Hi-Rez Studios, SMITE takes inspiration from Greek mythology and others such as Chinese, Egyptian, and Hindu to create its roster of over 100 playable characters. SMITE offers different game modes, the most popular of which is Conquest, in which players face off in League of Legends-style 5v5 matches intending to destroy the Titan at the center of the enemy base. But the internet went into a frenzy when, 10 years after releasing the first title, Hi-Rez announced SMITE 2. Marking the beginning of a new era, SMITE 2 will use Unreal Engine 5. Because of this technological leap, SMITE 2 has revealed that it won't bring important content from the first game into the sequel.
Art director Sherri Harney explained that SMITE skins cannot be transferred to SMITE 2, as doing so would cost 246 years of work. During the official announcement keynote, the dev said that the "hard call" was made in the early stages of SMITE 2's development. Harney also revealed that the game has over 1,600 skins released, from SMITE's collaboration with the metal band Slipknot to visuals inspired by popular franchises such as G.I. Joe, Magic: The Gathering, and RWBY. Art director Ben Knapp also explained that porting a single SMITE skin to SMITE 2 with just the effects would take about two months, and it wouldn't include any meaningful improvements.
To compensate SMITE and SMITE 2 players for this decision, Hi-Rez has made two announcements, the first being Legacy Gems. With this system, SMITE 2 players will receive virtual currency proportional to what they spent buying SMITE skins. The second announcement is the Divine Legacy event, which will reward SMITE and SMITE 2 players. For SMITE 2 players, they can unlock rewards in proportion to their progress in SMITE. This way, SMITE 2 players have the chance to grab up to 11 skins completely free. Meanwhile, SMITE players will unlock a Tier 4 and Tier 5 skin of their choice.
Players eager to try SMITE 2 will have the chance in the spring when the game's alpha test will take place. Those who want to join the test can sign up on the official SMITE 2 website. For players worried about the end of the first game, Hi-Rez has said that SMITE won't be shut down, at least not now, as the title will receive updates "for the foreseeable future."
From Titan Forge Games comes a free-to-play MOBA, SMITE. Players can select from a roster of over 100 gods and battle one another in SMITE’s competitive PVP mode, which takes them into a detailed and immersive third-person perspective in battle.