Epic Games Provides Clarification to Drops of Games Following Layoff News

Key Takeaways

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  • Epic Games has undergone significant layoffs, affecting nearly 1,000 employees worldwide.
  • The original versions of Horizon Chase and Horizon Chase Turbo will no longer be available for download from June 1st.
  • Despite the layoffs, Epic Games is focusing on enhancing Fortnite with new seasonal content, gameplay, stories, and live events.
  • The company is transitioning to Unreal Engine 6 (UE6), intending to improve dev tools, expand Fortnites Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN) features, and cut costs by more than $500 million through reduced marketing and hiring.

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Following layoffs of nearly 1,000 employees worldwide, Epic Games’ remaining workforce is slightly over 4,000, according to PlayersForLife of Games. In related news, the company announced that the original versions of Horizon Chase and Horizon Chase Turbo will no longer be available for download starting June 1st. This update, shared on X (formerly Twitter), also noted that Horizon Chase 2 remains available on iOS, PC (via the Epic Games Store), and consoles. Horizonchase’s X account reported the launch of Horizon Chase 2 on PlayStation and Xbox on March 24, 2026. These developments at Epic Games coincide with the launch of Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 2 on March 19, 2026. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney addressed the workforce reduction in a blog post on the company’s official website, stating that the layoffs are unrelated to AI technology, which he has publicly defended.

The company is currently engaged in legal battles with tech giants like Google and Apple regarding in-app purchases and third-party app stores. At the same time, Epic Games plans to enhance Fortnite experiences with new seasonal content, gameplay, stories, and live events. As the company transitions to Unreal Engine 6 (UE6), it also intends to focus on developing and improving its dev tools, while expanding Fortnite’s Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN) features and abilities. To offset costs, Epic Games has increased the price of Fortnite’s in-game currency, V-Bucks, and discontinued less popular modes like Rocket Racing. Impacted employees will receive four months of base pay, with longer-tenured staff receiving additional severance, along with six months of extended healthcare coverage. The company aims to cut costs by more than $500 million, primarily through reduced marketing and hiring. Fortnite reached a peak of approximately 9 million active players in November 2025 during The Simpsons season; however, recent peak player counts have fluctuated between 2.6 and 2.8 million. The price increase for V-Bucks at the start of Chapter 7 Season 2 also generated controversy. Some key members of the Fortnite development team were affected by the recent layoffs.

Layoffs at Epic Games Following Decline in Fortnite Player Activity

Notably, Epic Games previously laid off 1,000 employees in 2025 due to declining Fortnite player activity, which led to that decision.

In Case You Missed It

Staying current in the gaming world is a thrilling ride, and we’ve got you covered with three insightful posts from PlayersForLife.com. Kicking off our news, Sophie Laurent explores Epic Games’ strategic restructuring efforts in ‘URGENT: Epic Games Cuts Over a Thousand Workers; Horizon Chase, Horizon Chase Turbo No Longer Available for Download’, published on March 24th. Dive into this article to understand how Epic is focusing on Fortnite’s innovations and accelerating Unreal Engine technology to secure its future amidst industry challenges URGENT: Epic Games Cuts Over a Thousand Workers; Horizon Chase, Horizon Chase Turbo No Longer Available for Download. Shifting gears, Crimson Desert from Pearl Abyss has hit a remarkable milestone, surpassing 2 million sales and rolling out significant updates. Sophie’s report on March 24th delves into the new patch with across-the-board quality of life improvements and enhanced console performance, making it a must-read for fans of immersive narratives and intense gameplay Crimson Desert Surpasses 2 Million Sales and Releases Significant Updates. Lastly, Bruno Pferd takes us on a thrilling journey into the upcoming Arc System Works’ game, Marvel Tōkon Fighting Souls. His article introduces Peni Parker and the new hero team, The Amazing Guardians, along with the fresh narrative twist where Xirena Awhina pulls strings from the shadows Marvel Tōkon Fighting Souls Introduces Peni Parker and New Hero Team, the Amazing Guardians. Enjoy these exciting gaming insights!


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