Fortnite Festival
News, coverage and analysis tracking Fortnite Festival across the outlets.
This Excellent Guitar Controller Gets Its Lowest Price To DateThe PDP Riffmaster wireless guitar controller is currently on sale for $80, its lowest price to date, during Amazon's Prime Day 2026 sale. This price applies to the PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo versions of the controller, which is compatible with games like Rock Band 4 and Fortnite Festival. The controller features a metal-inspired design and a rechargeable battery offering up to 36 hours of playtime.- CRKD™ and Gibson® Expand the Gibson SG Guitar Controller Lineup: Introducing Cherry for PlayStation®5CRKD and Gibson have launched a new Cherry finish for their Gibson SG Guitar Controller, compatible with PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 consoles. This controller is designed for rhythm games like Fortnite Festival and Rock Band 4, and also supports PC titles and legacy Guitar Hero and Rock Band games through a dedicated mode. The controller features advanced hardware, including a Hall Effect Strum Bar and Hall Effect Whammy Bar, and can be customized via the CRKD App.
Fortnite Festival now lets you hit the skins for real with new MIDI drum kit compatibilityFortnite Festival has introduced new compatibility for MIDI drum kits, allowing players to use their own hardware for a more authentic drumming experience. This update coincides with the launch of Season 14, featuring Icelandic-Chinese singer Laufey and new unlockable content. The game also now supports free movement within the Jam Ring and a Quick Mix UI for easier track arrangement.
Laufey comes to Fortnite, alongside a new Rock Band-like feature and Save the WorldLaufey is the new headliner for Fortnite Festival Season 14, launching on April 16, 2026, with exclusive outfits and new karaoke features. The update also introduces a Rock Band-like mode with Mic Vocals and Pro Drums support, alongside the return of Fortnite Save the World as free-to-play. These additions aim to boost Fortnite's popularity following recent layoffs at Epic Games.
New Fortnite updates turns the game into Singstar and introduces Showdown Act 2Fortnite has received a new update introducing "Mic Vocals" to Fortnite Festival, allowing players to sing along in real-time with microphones, similar to Singstar. The update also launches Showdown Act 2 for the battle royale mode, featuring a conflict between Jules and Dasha, and makes the Save The World mode free-to-play.
Fortnite Festival Laufey Music Pass: All Skins, Jam Tracks, Instruments, And Other RewardsThe new season of Fortnite Festival features artist Laufey and runs until July 15, offering a music pass with 22 cosmetic items and eight jam tracks, four of which are free. The pass costs 1,200 V-Bucks and includes unique instruments and skins, with additional items available for purchase in the item shop.- Evening PatchesFortnite Festival Season 14 has launched, featuring Laufey as the headliner. This update introduces new gameplay features, including microphone vocals and pro drums, enhancing the musical experience within the game.
Former Valve Dev Destroys Tim Sweeney Over Epic’s Mass LayoffsFormer Valve developer Chet Faliszek heavily criticized Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney on TikTok following Epic's announcement of 1,000 layoffs. Faliszek accused Sweeney of prioritizing profit from Fortnite over game development and employee well-being, contrasting Epic's actions with Valve's employee ownership model.
Valve veteran slams Tim Sweeney and Epic Games for laying off 1000 people while making 'as much money as possible… and hey Tim, Gabe's better at that than you'Former Valve writer Chet Faliszek criticized Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney for recent layoffs of over 1000 employees, questioning the motivation for hard work at the company. Faliszek contrasted Epic's actions with Valve's approach to employee retention and rewards, suggesting that Epic's practices damage the industry's passion and care. Epic Games did not directly respond to Faliszek's remarks but pointed to a previous statement addressing the layoffs.
Fortnite Rocket Racing and more are being sunsetted amidst layoffsEpic Games is shutting down several Fortnite modes, including Rocket Racing, Ballistic, and Festival Battle Stage, amidst significant layoffs affecting over 1,000 employees. The company is also discontinuing downloads for the original Horizon Chase and Horizon Chase Turbo. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney stated the company is rebuilding its foundations to navigate industry upheaval and focus on seasonal content for Fortnite and future Unreal Engine development.
Fortnite Layoffs Included Artist Who Designed Jonesy, The Face Of The GameEpic Games has conducted layoffs affecting approximately 1,000 employees, including the character artist who designed Fortnite's iconic character Jonesy. The company cited a downturn in engagement since 2025 and a need for cost savings, leading to a $500 million plan that includes scaling back projects like Rocket Racing and Fortnite Festival. Affected employees will receive severance pay and extended healthcare coverage.
Fortnite Developer Says They Have to “Pick Up the Pieces and Keep Moving Forward” After Lay-OffsEpic Games has undergone significant layoffs, impacting over 1,000 employees due to a downturn in Fortnite's performance. CEO Tim Sweeney cited spending exceeding revenue as the reason for the cuts, aiming to stabilize the company. In addition to layoffs, Epic Games is shutting down three Fortnite game modes: Rocket Racing, Ballistic, and Festival Battle Stage.- Fortnite is Shutting Down Three Popular Game Modes After Recent LayoffsEpic Games is shutting down three popular game modes in Fortnite: Rocket Racing, a Battle Royale mode, and the Festival Battle Stage. This decision follows recent layoffs at the company aimed at streamlining cost economics. While Rocket Racing will be removed in October 2026, the other modes will cease operations sooner, with the Festival Battle Stage shutting down on April 16.
- Fortnite to remove Rocket Racing, Ballistic & Festival Battle StageEpic Games announced the removal of Rocket Racing, Ballistic, and the Festival Battle Stage from Fortnite. This decision follows a significant announcement of 1,000 employee layoffs at the company.
After Raising the Price on V-Bucks, Epic Games is Laying Off Over 1000 Employees | Console CreaturesEpic Games CEO Tim Sweeney announced over 1,000 employees are being laid off, citing lower-than-expected engagement for live-service games in 2025 and broader industry challenges. This follows a price increase for V-bucks and previous layoffs in 2023. The company is also shutting down modes like Rocket Racing and Fortnite Festival.
Fortnite popularity slips so much Epic Games lays off 1,000 staffEpic Games has announced further layoffs, cutting 1,000 employees, citing a decline in Fortnite's engagement and increased spending. This follows a similar round of layoffs and V-Bucks price increases in 2023. Several Fortnite game modes, including Ballistic and Battle Stage, will be shut down in April, with Rocket Racing to follow in October.
Fortnite Is Ditching Several Modes Including Rocket Racing Amid Layoffs and Cost-CuttingEpic Games is shutting down several Fortnite modes, including Rocket Racing, Fortnite Festival Battle Stage, and Fortnite Ballistic, as part of a company-wide cost-cutting initiative that includes over 1,000 layoffs. The modes will be removed by April 2026 and October respectively, with Epic citing a failure to attract a large enough player base.- Epic is laying off more than 1,000 workers, citing a downturn in Fortnite engagementEpic Games is laying off over 1,000 employees, citing a significant downturn in Fortnite engagement and a need to cut costs. CEO Tim Sweeney stated that the company is spending more than it makes, necessitating major workforce reductions to ensure financial stability. The layoffs come alongside the discontinuation of three Fortnite modes: Rocket Racing, Fortnite Ballistic, and Festival Battle Stage.
Epic Lays Off Over 1000 Employees Due to "Downturn in Fortnite Engagement"Epic Games has laid off over 1000 employees due to a significant downturn in Fortnite engagement and spending, leading the company to spend more than it earns. CEO Tim Sweeney cited industry-wide challenges and specific issues with Fortnite's seasonal content as reasons for the cuts. In conjunction with the layoffs, Epic is also reducing costs in contracting and marketing, and some Fortnite game modes will be taken offline.
The CRKD Pro Edition Guitar controller is almost perfect, and lets you rock out to all of the classics along with the most recent hitsThe CRKD Gibson Les Paul Pro Edition guitar controller sets a new standard for rhythm gaming peripherals, offering compatibility with modern titles like Fortnite Festival and Clone Hero, as well as legacy games. It features responsive mechanical fret buttons, a Hall Effect strum bar with haptic feedback, and a removable neck for portability. While setup for some games like Fortnite Festival can be unintuitive due to sparse instructions, the overall performance and build quality make it a highly recommended investment for fans of the genre.