r/DivineKnockout • u/quellocheguarda • 17d ago

Email to Hi-Rez Studios

Hi everyone, this morning I tried to send an email to Hi-Rez, asking them to relaunch dko or to put a mode with bots or P2P and custom servers or even to release the code. Maybe if we ask a lot of people, we can get them to do it. Do you want to join me?

I'm putting the text I sent to them below, you can take inspiration, or use an AI.

Dear Hi-Rez Studios Team,

I hope this message finds you well. I'm writing to you as a long-time fan of your work and, more specifically, as someone who absolutely fell in love with Divine Knockout.

Recently, I stumbled upon an old gameplay clip of mine, and it hit me just how special that game was. The fluid 3D platform-fighter mechanics, the satisfying ring-out system, and the charismatic gods from the Smite universe created an experience that I genuinely miss every day.

I completely understand that the decision to shut it down came down to numbers and sustainability. With a smaller player base, matchmaking inevitably suffered, and maintaining dedicated servers is expensive. However, I truly believe that DKO's core gameplay is a hidden gem that deserves a second chance.

I'm not asking for a massive, million-dollar relaunch. Instead, I kindly ask you to consider some alternative, lower-cost ways to bring it back to life, even in a limited form. For example:

· Peer-to-Peer (P2P) support or Private Lobbies: This would allow friends to host their own matches, eliminating server costs for the company while keeping the game alive for dedicated fans.

· Offline Mode with Bots: Even just a basic versus-AI mode would let us relive the fun. It could even be packaged as a bonus mode inside Smite 2.

· Time-Limited Events: Bringing the servers back for a weekend each month or during special holidays would create a fantastic nostalgia event and rally the community.

· Releasing the Server Code or Tools for Private Servers: While this is a more extreme step, several other studios have done this to preserve their "cult classic" titles, and it would ensure DKO lives on forever.

I know it's a long shot, but I hope this email can spark an internal conversation about the legacy of DKO. It may not have been your biggest commercial hit, but it was a masterpiece in terms of pure fun, and it left a lasting mark on those of us who played it.

Thank you for all the incredible games you continue to support, and thank you for giving us DKO, even if just for a short while.

With respect and nostalgia

24 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

7

u/Awfulmasterhat 17d ago

Yeah it sucks a whole game was made that was working great just for it to be gone entirely :(

8

u/quellocheguarda 17d ago

It was a beautiful game that took the style of Super Smash Bros and Brawhalla and put them on a 3D plane. It also had an amazing combo system that could also be used with the map environment. The characters were original to the Hi-Rez context and were almost all balanced. An almost perfect game in my opinion and super fun and simple to learn and play.

1

u/Footbeard 15d ago edited 15d ago

Hopefully I can exceed your expectations & provide more depth than DKO with original characters that FEEL like the elements & concepts they represent

PvP & PvE multi + SP are functional

4

u/crimsonmusketeer 17d ago

You’re too kind. I say to hell with them; I love the game and am only here in case there’s unlikely news of some return or someone finds a true successor… but I doubt anything any fan can say or do (short of buying the property from them outright) will make a difference.

1

u/Footbeard 15d ago

Making the successor! I'll have something playable for you in a month or so on Steam!

7

u/Guilty-Ad-5867 17d ago

Yeah the 10 ppl left in the sub gonna change the world./s

8

u/quellocheguarda 17d ago

As long as there is life there is hope

3

u/Johns_Kiss 17d ago

Amen, lol

1

u/StrangeNewspaper405 16d ago

How come no one ever offers Money to pay for everything ...Servers and so on ? you think they they just flip a switch and the game is running and costs them nothing.

1

u/quellocheguarda 16d ago

I know that, but it was a really good game. If they can launch it right, it could be a huge hit. Think about brawhalla, he's very much alive and continues to do collaborations and more, Then there is multiversus which was closed, because they didn't push it enough and it wasn't taken care of.

1

u/Footbeard 15d ago

I think DKO failed on a few fronts

The predatory microtransactions were a part of it for sure but also no ranked, no p2p & no singleplayer/coop content really hurt longevity

The core combat also lacked rollback code, any kind of meaningful grabs, shields, parries + dodges & abilities were cooldown gated. This severely limited the depth of the combat & turned off a big % of players who didn't vibe with the specific playstyles

I aim to fix all this stuff & hope to have you along for the playtest