Skip to main content

Smite 2 finally goes free-to-play next week

Key art for SMITE 2.
Hi-Rez Studios

Hi-Rez Studios has finally confirmed a release date for the free-to-play open beta version of Smite 2. That free-to-play launch is coming next Tuesday, January 14.

Smite 2 is a multiplayer online battle arena game (MOBA) sequel that was first announced one year ago. Paying Founder’s Edition players have had access to its alpha on PC and consoles since September 2024. This January 14 release will be its wider free-to-play launch, although Hi-Rez Studios still considers the game to be in an open beta state. The transition to open beta also comes alongside a massive update that brings tons of new content to the sequel, from new Gods to play as to new gameplay mechanics and modes.

A team of players fights a Chaos Titan in Smite 2.
Hi-Rez Studios

Currently, Smite 2 features 45 different gods to play as, but five more are coming as part of this open beta launch. That includes four updated Gods from the original Smite — Ullr, Agni, Geb, and Mulan — and a new God: Aladdin. Taking clear inspiration from the Disney movie, Aladdin fights alongside a blue genie to tag-team enemies. He can run on walls, has three single-use wishes for massive buffs he can use during a match, and traps opponents in a genie lamp to fight them with his Ultimate.

Recommended Videos

Hi-Rez is introducing Aspects to Smite 2, which players can enable to Gods to change up their gameplay abilities. Twenty Gods — including Athena, Morrigan, and Cernunnos — have Aspects right now. Hi-Rez plans to bring more Gods and Aspects to the game over time. A new 3v3, one-lane mode called Joust is also coming to the MOBA with a new map, and lots of other gameplay updates for the other modes, with UI, balancing, and more coming as well.

Gods fight each other in Smite 2.
Hi-Rez Studios

The Smite 2 free-to-play open beta will begin on January 14, with Aladdin and the Joust mode also launching that day. Those who buy a Smite 2 Founder’s Edition are able to play the game now and can already access a lot of the new open beta content, like the reworked classic gods, Aspects, and other gameplay updates.

Tomas Franzese
Former Digital Trends Contributor
As a Gaming Staff Writer at Digital Trends, Tomas Franzese reports on and reviews the latest releases and exciting…
PlayStation Portal 2: 8 features we want in Sony’s next-gen handheld
A PlayStation Portal boots up.

After the PlayStation Portable and PlayStation Vita, there wasn't much hope that Sony would create another handheld system. Both consoles failed to establish themselves as meaningful parts of PlayStation's ecosystems despite having passionate fan bases. That's what made the initial reveal of the PlayStation Portal so surprising, at least until we knew exactly what it was. As an accessory, the PlayStation Portal is a decent device for some situations. It makes remote play easy and combines all the cool features of the DualSense controller with a great display. However, it does leave a lot to be desired for those hoping for a bit more from a new PlayStation device. Should Sony decide to iterate on this novel idea, there are a few features we think it needs to have to be a true success.

We're not going to ask Sony to completely overhaul what it established with the PlayStation Portal.  For as much as we'd love for a fully dedicated handheld like a Vita 2, that's just too far beyond what we can hope for.
Wi-Fi 6

Read more
Smite 2 Founder’s Editions available now, closed alpha coming in May
A lineup of gods in Smite 2.

Smite 2 Founder's Editions are now available for purchase on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC -- but there's a catch: the game won't be playable until its first closed alpha weekend next month.

Smite 2 developer Titan Forge has confirmed that the MOBA's first closed alpha weekend is coming sometime this May, and that the only way to access this early look at the game is by purchasing a Founder's Edition, available starting today.

Read more
The Finals Season 2 offers up plenty of reasons for players to come back
A The Finals Season 2 skin.

The Finals made a big splash when it launched at The Game Awards 2023, and it has maintained a healthy player base in the months since. Tomorrow, The Finals Season 2 begins and it brings new weapons and gadgets, another battle pass, a new map, and the Power Shift mode with it. Although I dropped from off playing The Finals a few weeks after its release, my early taste of Season 2’s new content was more than enticing enough to draw me back in.
New season, new content
As expected, The Finals Season 2 offers up another 96-level battle pass for players to make their way through. This season is themed around a hacker group called CNS and all things digital, so many of the cosmetics are inspired by that faction and video games like Street Fighter and Minecraft. During a presentation prior to Digital Trends’ Season 2 playtest, Embark Studios confirmed it does not plan to change the battle pass’ pricing, nor put any new gameplay-related content behind a paywall.

THE FINALS | Season 2 | March 14

Read more