Game Industry
Ongoing coverage on Game Industry.
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Epic is laying off more than 1,000 workers, citing a downturn in Fortnite engagement
Epic 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 Games just laid off over 1,000 people
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney announced that over 1,000 employees are being laid off due to a significant downturn in Fortnite engagement starting in 2025, leading to the company spending more than it makes. These layoffs are not related to AI development, and the company is implementing cost-saving measures across various departments. Affected employees will receive severance packages, extended healthcare, and accelerated stock options.
Epic confirms layoffs of over 1,000 employees as Fortnite engagement slides
Epic Games has confirmed layoffs affecting over 1,000 employees due to a significant downturn in Fortnite engagement since 2025, leading to the company spending more than it earns. CEO Tim Sweeney stated the cuts are necessary for financial stability and are not related to AI, but rather increased competition for player attention and past legal battles with Apple. Affected employees will receive severance packages, extended healthcare, and accelerated stock options.
Epic Games lays off over 1,000 staff citing Fortnite “downturn” in popularity
Epic Games has laid off over 1,000 employees, citing a significant downturn in Fortnite engagement since 2025 and broader industry challenges. CEO Tim Sweeney stated the layoffs are intended to save $500 million and stabilize the company's finances. The company plans to focus on improving Fortnite's seasonal content and advancing its Unreal Engine technology.
If You're Playing Final Fantasy Games on PS5, There's a Good Chance You're Old
Data suggests that the Final Fantasy franchise, particularly titles like Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, has an aging player base, with a significant majority of players over 30. Director Naoki Yoshida believes long gaps between releases have hindered attracting younger players. The article questions Square Enix's strategy and suggests a radical reinvention, similar to Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, might be needed to revitalize the series for modern audiences.
77% of US Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth players were 30 or older, analyst says, as Square Enix fights to get young people to…
An analysis of player demographics for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth in the US reveals that 77% of players are aged 30 or older, with 62% being 35 or older, according to Circana's Mat Piscatella. This trend, noted by Final Fantasy 14 director Naoki Yoshida, suggests the Final Fantasy series may be struggling to attract younger players due to long gaps between releases and evolving player preferences.
Quoteworthy
An actor from Expedition 33 believes the game industry will not learn from its current practices, citing the opportunistic nature of capitalism. The sentiment suggests a critical view of how business interests might overshadow artistic or ethical considerations within game development.
Games Inbox: Are people right to criticise Nvidia’s DLSS 5 tech?
Readers express concerns over Nvidia's DLSS 5 technology, with some criticizing its rollout and potential AI integration. The discussion also touches on the decline of VR gaming, nostalgia for the Xbox 360 era, and anticipation for upcoming game releases in 2026, including Grand Theft Auto 6 and Persona 6.
PS5 Led Resident Evil Requiem Sales in the US, Outpacing PC
Resident Evil 4 has sold over 6 million copies, with the PlayStation 5 version leading sales in the US and outpacing PC. Discussions in the comments highlight debates over sales figure manipulation, the game's quality, and the value of physical copies versus digital distribution.
Quoteworthy
Jeff Kaplan argues that players should refrain from complaining about games they have no intention of playing. He suggests that this behavior is unproductive and detracts from the enjoyment of the gaming community.
'Imagine Being Such a Loser': We've Hit Rock Bottom with Website Dedicated to 'Failing' Games
A new website called Flopathon has emerged, dedicated to tracking Steam player counts and labeling games as 'flops' in an antagonistic manner. While it presents data similar to SteamDB, its approach is described as mean-spirited and not neutral. The article argues that Steam player data is only a fraction of a game's overall success and that such a site can skew perceptions.
Unions band together to launch new game industry conference 'by workers, for workers'
A new game industry conference called the Game Workers Conference has been launched by unions. The event will be hosted online and will be freely accessible to all attendees.
GDC Indie Spotlight: Mixtape, Replaced, and More | Official Xbox Podcast
The author discusses Xbox's current strategy, contrasting it with past leadership and PlayStation's approach to third-party support. They express optimism for Xbox's future, particularly regarding PC game compatibility on the console and potential for a wider game library compared to PlayStation's exclusive release cadence.
PEGI Rating Changes Will See Loot Box Games Classified Much Higher
PEGI is updating its rating system to classify games featuring loot boxes and similar randomized microtransactions at PEGI 16. Games with battle passes or time-limited systems will be rated PEGI 12, with an option to lower to PEGI 7 if in-game purchase toggles are available. These changes, aimed at closing loopholes and addressing concerns about predatory monetization, will take effect in June.
Jeff Kaplan Drops Bombshell About ‘Contentious’ Activision Exit
Overwatch co-creator Jeff Kaplan described his 2021 departure from Activision Blizzard as the biggest "f**k you moment" of his career, suggesting a deeply contentious exit. This revelation sheds light on potential issues within Blizzard during the development of Overwatch 2 and contributes to a broader discussion about how major game studios treat their creative talent.
Unions band together to launch new game industry conference 'by workers, for workers'
The United Videogame Workers of CWA has launched the Game Workers Conference (GWC), an online event scheduled for May 22-23, 2026, designed by and for game industry workers. The conference will feature discussions on industry skills, union campaigns, and the relationship between press and workers, with participation from organizations like SAG-AFTRA. Sessions will be freely accessible online, with optional watch parties in select cities.
Highguard (XS) Review | VGChartz
This review of Highguard criticizes the disproportionate amount of hate directed towards games, particularly live service titles, by players who claim not to care. The author argues that this negativity, seen across both single-player and live service games, has a more detrimental impact on the industry than developers creating more live service games.
Original founders of Bossfight Entertainment re-launch studio as Bossfight
Several companies within the game industry have announced new leadership appointments and expansions in March 2026. ProbablyMonsters added three executives to its leadership team, Kasedo Games appointed Timea Edvi as publishing director, and Sixteen Tons named Sebastian Nußuam as CCO. Microsoft Gaming, Midwest Games, and Escape Velocity Entertainment also saw new hires in key roles.
Sony Rated the Best Big Game Company to Work for in Japan, Beating Nintendo, Capcom, More
Sony Interactive Entertainment has been rated the best major game company to work for in Japan based on employee satisfaction data. The company ranked highest in average yearly income and lowest in monthly overtime, surpassing competitors like Nintendo, Capcom, and Bandai Namco. While Sony's satisfaction rating was slightly lower than Bandai Namco's, its overall score placed it at the top of the industry.
As the Marathon player count discourse reaches peak stupidity, Warframe and Overwatch devs speak up in solidarity: 'This is big unemployed, maidenless behavior'
Developers from Warframe and Overwatch have spoken out against the intense scrutiny of Marathon's player count on Steam, calling it "unemployed, maidenless behavior." Rebecca Ford of Warframe highlighted the increased competition in the market since the game's launch, while Dylan Snyder of Overwatch pointed out the limitations of using SteamDB for player count analysis. The discussion touches on the challenges faced by new live service games in a crowded market.
