Epic Games is cutting more than 1,000 jobs, roughly 20 percent of its workforce, as flagging engagement with Fortnite forces the privately held company to reduce costs.
The layoffs mark the second time in recent years that Epic has resorted to significant headcount reductions linked to Fortnite's performance. The game, which at its peak was among the most played titles globally, has seen a sharp fall in usage, according to the company.
Alongside the job cuts, Epic has raised the price of V-Bucks, the in-game currency used to purchase cosmetic items and battle passes within Fortnite. The dual move signals that the company is tightening both its cost base and its monetisation strategy simultaneously.
Epic Games is privately held and does not disclose revenue or user metrics publicly, limiting visibility into the depth of Fortnite's commercial decline. The company is best known for Fortnite and the Unreal Engine, a widely used game development platform licensed across the industry.
