Epic Axes 1000 Employees and Three Fortnite Game Modes

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Key art for Fornite Battle Royale Season1

Published Mar 24, 2026, 2:08 PM EDT

Scott Baird is a contributor with over a decade's experience writing about video games, along with board games and tabletop RPGs. Scott has previously worked for Dexerto, Cracked, Dorkly, and Gamepur.

One of the most popular video games in the world might be on rockier footing than anyone realized, as Epic Games has announced that it has laid off over 1000 employees, along with cutting three modes from Fortnite.

Fortnite is a free-to-play game, which means it doesn't rank among the best-selling video games of all time. The game still pulls in billions of dollars via microtransactions, as players have spent untold amounts of money buying battle passes and currency for skins, which is why Fortnite doesn't need an entry cost to make cash.

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Despite Fortnite's success, it seems the game isn't quite as successful as fans believed. An official post on the Epic Games website has announced that a huge number of staff members have been cut, along with several Fortnite modes, as part of cost-cutting measures.

Epic Games Slashes Fortnite Staff & Cans Several Game Modes

According to Epic Games, over 1000 employees have been laid off. Fortnite is also cutting three game modes: Rocket Racing, Ballistic, and Festival Battle Stage. The modes will gradually lose support in 2026.

Epic Games gave multiple reasons for the cuts, citing declining engagement since 2025 and skyrocketing industry costs. While Fortnite is allowed back on Android (thanks to the conclusion of the Epic Games vs Google lawsuit), it'll take time for that deal to pay off.

According to Epic Games, over 1000 employees have been laid off. Fortnite is also cutting three game modes: Rocket Racing, Ballistic, and Festival Battle Stage.

The question everyone is asking is whether Fortnite itself is in danger. It's possible that the Epic Store is draining way too much money and is threatening the game's future. There's also a finite number of fictional characters available for skins and events, and the crossover appeal is diluted by oversaturation, meaning Fortnite's main appeal is draining over time.

Whatever the case, the cuts have been brutal and fast, with employees taking to LinkedIn to share their surprise at today's events. DualShockers wishes them the best and hopes that they're able to find work soon.