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Epic Games announced on March 24, 2026, that it would lay off more than 1,000 employees. CEO Tim Sweeney attributed the cuts to falling Fortnite engagement and wider business pressures; subsequent coverage documented criticism of the layoffs and of how Epic discussed them. The reported reactions are examples, not a measure of how employees or the public as a whole responded.
What happened in Epic Games’ 2026 layoffs?
In a March 24, 2026, note to employees, Epic CEO Tim Sweeney announced that the company would cut more than 1,000 jobs. The Associated Press reported that the cuts amounted to about 20% of Epic’s workforce and that the company had 4,000 employees after the layoffs. Epic’s own announcement specified the number of jobs, not the workforce percentage.
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This was a separate round from Epic’s September 2023 layoffs. The two events had different stated contexts and severance terms.
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Epic said Fortnite engagement had been declining since 2025, leaving the company spending substantially more than it was bringing in. Sweeney wrote: “The downturn in Fortnite engagement that started in 2025 means we’re spending significantly more than we’re making, and we have to make major cuts to keep the company funded.” Epic also said it had identified more than $500 million in savings from contracting, marketing, and closing some open positions.
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- Redeemable on accounts in the United States and in U.S. Dollars.
- Gift card must be redeemed at EpicGames.com/redeem. This gift card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly on a console device (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, etc.)
- If you play Fortnite experiences on a console device, you need to link your Epic Games account to your console account(s) so items purchased at Fortnite.com/item-shop appear across all of your linked accounts
- Requires internet connection, valid Epic account and prior acceptance of the terms
- Redemption: Online
Epic cited several other pressures: slower growth and weaker spending, tougher cost economics, current-generation consoles selling less than the previous generation, competition from other forms of entertainment, difficulty delivering consistent Fortnite seasons, and an early-stage return to mobile. These are the company’s stated reasons, not independently audited findings about what caused the downturn.
Sweeney also said the layoffs were not related to AI: “Since it’s a thing now, I should note that the layoffs aren’t related to AI.”
Rank #2
- Redeemable on accounts in the United States and in U.S. Dollars.
- Gift card must be redeemed at EpicGames.com/redeem. This gift card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly on a console device (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, etc.)
- If you play Fortnite experiences on a console device, you need to link your Epic Games account to your console account(s) so items purchased at Fortnite.com/item-shop appear across all of your linked accounts
- Requires internet connection, valid Epic account and prior acceptance of the terms
- Redemption: Online
How the 2026 cuts differ from Epic’s 2023 layoffs
| Details | September 2023 | March 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Date and reported scale | Epic said it was cutting around 16% of employees. The Associated Press reported 830 jobs, about 16% of the workforce at the time. | Epic announced more than 1,000 job cuts. The Associated Press reported about 20% of the workforce and 4,000 employees remaining after the cuts. |
| Stated business context | Epic said it had been spending more than it earned while investing in the company’s next evolution and creator-generated Fortnite content, a lower-margin shift. | Epic cited declining Fortnite engagement since 2025, spending exceeding revenue, and broader business pressures. |
| Severance and healthcare | Epic announced six months of base pay and six months of Epic-paid healthcare in the U.S., Canada, and Brazil, among other support. | Epic announced at least four months of base pay, with additional amounts based on tenure, and extended Epic-paid healthcare. It specified six months of paid coverage for U.S. employees. |
| Other scope or support | Epic said it would divest Bandcamp and spin off most of SuperAwesome. | Epic said it would accelerate stock-option vesting through January 2027 and extend equity exercise options for up to two years. |
The 2023 figures and terms come from Epic’s September 28, 2023, announcement and AP’s report; the 2026 figures and terms come from Epic’s March 24, 2026, announcement and AP’s report. They should not be treated as one continuous layoff event.
What severance did Epic announce for affected employees?
For the 2026 layoffs, Epic announced at least four months of base-pay severance, with additional severance based on tenure. It said it would extend Epic-paid healthcare and specified six months of paid coverage for U.S. employees. Epic also said it would accelerate stock-option vesting through January 2027 and extend equity exercise options for up to two years. These terms are from Epic’s announcement; the six-month healthcare duration is specifically stated for U.S. employees.
Rank #3
- Redeemable on accounts in the United States and in U.S. Dollars.
- Gift card must be redeemed at EpicGames.com/redeem. This gift card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly on a console device (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, etc.)
- If you play Fortnite experiences on a console device, you need to link your Epic Games account to your console account(s) so items purchased at Fortnite.com/item-shop appear across all of your linked accounts
- Requires internet connection, valid Epic account and prior acceptance of the terms
- Redemption: Online
Why did Tim Sweeney and Epic face backlash?
Windows Central reported sharp criticism in online community responses to the layoffs and Sweeney’s comments. Some criticism focused on Epic praising affected workers after eliminating their jobs. Sweeney described those employees as highly capable and said the layoffs were not performance-based. The coverage’s selected posts and reaction counts illustrate particular responses; they do not establish how widespread the criticism was among employees, players, or the public.
A separate case drew attention after Jenni Griffin, the wife of laid-off Epic employee Mike Prinke, wrote publicly that her husband’s terminal brain cancer and loss of employment also meant losing life insurance. The Guardian reported that Sweeney apologized, said Epic would contact the family and address the insurance, and said medical information was not a factor in the layoff decision. This is a reported individual case, not evidence of a general policy or of the reason for the broader cuts.
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- An Epic Games account is required to redeem an Epic Games Store Card code
- If playing on a console platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch or Mobile) you need to link your Epic Games account to that gaming platform (one time) to redeem your gift card code
- The 16 digit code on the back of the card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly through your gaming platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch, Mobile, etc.)
- Note: Nintendo devices do not support Fortnite Shared Wallet, so V-Bucks purchased using your account balance will not show up on your Nintendo device. However, if you purchase items in the web Item Shop — or another platform where you play Fortnite — those items will be available in your Locker across all platforms.
- Redemption: Online
What did Epic say it would focus on next?
Epic said it would prioritize fresh Fortnite seasonal content, gameplay, story, and live events. It also said it planned to accelerate developer tools as it evolved from Unreal Engine 5 and UEFN toward Unreal Engine 6. These are stated priorities; the announcement does not establish that the plans have been delivered.
Quick Recap
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- An Epic Games account is required to redeem an Epic Games Store Card code
- If playing on a console platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch or Mobile) you need to link your Epic Games account to that gaming platform (one time) to redeem your gift card code
- The 16 digit code on the back of the card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly through your gaming platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch, Mobile, etc.)
- Note: Nintendo devices do not support Fortnite Shared Wallet, so V-Bucks purchased using your account balance will not show up on your Nintendo device. However, if you purchase items in the web Item Shop — or another platform where you play Fortnite — those items will be available in your Locker across all platforms.
- Redemption: Online
Sources
- Epic Games, “Today’s layoffs,” March 24, 2026
- Epic Games, “Layoffs at Epic,” September 28, 2023
- The Associated Press, “Epic Games lays off more than 1,000 amid slowing Fortnite engagement,” March 24, 2026
- Windows Central, “Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney says 1,000 devs laid off over Fortnite slump are once-in-a-lifetime quality folks,” March 25, 2026
- The Guardian, “CEO of Epic Games apologizes after laying off employee with terminal brain cancer,” March 30, 2026
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
