What The HELL Is Going On With FORTNITE?
The gaming industry is currently in a state of flux, with many companies struggling to adapt. For a long time, Fortnite seemed to be the exception, a constant in a volatile market. Since its Battle Royale mode exploded in popularity in 2018, it has been the gold standard for live-service games, a model that many other companies, like Sony, have tried to emulate with limited success. Fortnite appeared invincible, an untouchable giant.
However, on March 24, 2026, Tim Sweeney of Epic Games announced that over 1,000 developers, or 20% of Epic Games' total workforce, had been laid off. Sweeney attributed this to a downturn in Fortnite engagement that began in 2025, stating that Epic Games was "spending significantly more than we're making" and needed to make "major cuts to keep the company funded." This raises questions, as Fortnite is one of the most lucrative games of all time, reportedly making an estimated $6 billion in 2025 alone. This figure, if accurate, would suggest it was their most successful year, making Sweeney's statement seem contradictory.
