Hi-Rez Studios has fundamentally reshaped the live service experience for its flagship MOBA, Smite 2, by implementing a novel seasonal content model that prioritizes player agency and permanent progression. Moving away from the traditional battle pass structure of its predecessor, the game, now in open beta, has introduced a system of thematic collections, drawing clear inspiration from the player-friendly approaches of titles like Helldivers 2 and Marvel Rivals. This strategic pivot aims to retain the massive community built since the original game's 2014 launch while offering a more flexible and rewarding framework for unlocking cosmetics and engaging with new content.
A New Era of Content Delivery
The core of this innovation is the Wandering Market, a hub for rotating seasonal collections. Each collection is themed and lasts approximately eight weeks, featuring four pages of content. Crucially, Hi-Rez has designed this system to be non-expiring. Unlike time-limited passes that create pressure to complete them, Smite 2's collections are intended to be permanent. Players can leave a collection unfinished and return to it later, a feature directly reminiscent of Helldivers 2's Warbond system. This eliminates the fear of missing out (FOMO) that plagues many live-service games and allows players to engage at their own pace.
The Dual-Track Progression: Free vs. Premium
Accessibility remains a cornerstone, with the first page of every collection being completely free for all players. Progression through these pages is driven by a new in-game economy:
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Earning Currency: Players accumulate Coins and XP by completing daily challenges and seasonal quests.
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Free Track Rewards: Free-to-play gamers use their Coins to unlock items on the free page, which primarily grants Diamonds. Diamonds function as a separate premium currency usable in the in-game shop for skins and other cosmetics.
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Premium Track Rewards: The subsequent three pages of each collection form the premium track. Unlocking this track requires a separate purchase, but it offers more direct and lucrative rewards, including exclusive character skins.
A key feature is the ability to work on multiple collections simultaneously. The studio has confirmed that players are not forced to finish one collection before starting another, providing unprecedented flexibility in pursuing desired cosmetics.
Player Choice and the Collection Economy
The system empowers players with meaningful choice, similar to the introduction of Battle Stars in Fortnite. As players spend Coins to unlock nodes on a collection page, they can strategically choose which specific rewards to acquire first. For instance, if a player is only interested in a particular skin or cosmetic item, they can target it directly rather than grinding through an entire linear track.
Each collection page features one unique skin. A highlighted example from the current model is the "Hot Stuff Poseidon" skin, which creatively reimagines the Greek god as a bottle of hot sauce wielding a red pitchfork. This level of thematic creativity is expected to continue with each new collection.
If a player is uninterested in the theme or rewards of an active collection, they can simply bank their Coins for a future release. However, Hi-Rez has indicated there will be an upper limit to how many Coins can be saved, preventing excessive hoarding and encouraging periodic engagement with the available content.
Context and Evolution from Smite
This structured, seasonal approach marks a significant departure from the original Smite. While the first game was renowned for its successful cross-over collaborations with major IPs like Avatar: The Last Airbender and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, it lacked a consistent, overarching framework for content rollout and player progression. The shift to a collection-based model in Smite 2 provides a predictable rhythm for content updates—every eight weeks—while offering deeper, more customizable reward pathways.
The open beta, which commenced on January 14, 2025, serves as the testing ground for this new economy. Players currently have access to 45 playable gods, the classic Joust map, and the alpha test of the Assault mode. As Hi-Rez Studios monitors feedback and engagement metrics, further refinements to the cosmetics and progression systems are anticipated throughout 2025 and beyond. This player-centric model represents Hi-Rez's commitment to evolving with the live-service landscape, ensuring Smite 2 remains a compelling destination for both veteran deities and new challengers on the battleground of the gods.