Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more

Epic Games’ own March 24, 2026 employee note supplies the contradiction behind this headline: the company says Fortnite engagement has fallen since 2025, spending is significantly above revenue, and more than 1,000 employees are being laid off. Epic’s proposed answer is to concentrate again on Fortnite, improve creator tools and move from Unreal Engine 5 and UEFN toward Unreal Engine 6. “Touch grass” is therefore a metaphorical demand for perspective—not a claim that CEO Tim Sweeney literally needs outdoor recreation.

Why Epic Games needs a reality check

Epic describes a vast connected ecosystem, but scale has not insulated it from declining attention or difficult economics. In its March 24, 2026 note, the company said the downturn in Fortnite engagement that began in 2025 meant it was “spending significantly more than we’re making” and had to make major cuts to keep the company funded.

The same note said: “Today we’re laying off over 1000 Epic employees.” Those figures are Epic’s statements about its own business. They should not be treated as an independently audited measure of the company’s finances or workforce.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

That tension gives the satirical headline its force. A company that connects hundreds of millions of players and creators still has to confront whether its products remain compelling, whether its expansion strategy is affordable and whether it is listening beyond its own platform.

#1 Best Overall
Sale
Compressed Air Duster,130000RPM Super Power Cordless Air Duster,Rechargeable Brushless Blower,3 Gear Adjustable Blower with LED Light,Dust Remover for Computer/House/Outdoor/Car
  • Powerful Turbo Fan:CAGIWIRU Electric Air Duster have reached speed up to 130000RPM,Can efficient remove dust and debris.With LED light and Three Adjustable Speed to meet with different cleaning tasks.
  • With Attached USB C Fasting Charging cable.Charing 3 hours,Enjoy up to 240 minutes of use on the lowest setting, For third speed can use for 25mins.with four charging options to meet with your needs.
  • Wide Application: attached 5 different nozzles,making it suitable for a variety of scenes, such as car,pet, pc, keyboards, and other electronic devices. It also serves for office and home clean duster.
  • Handy Design & Portable:Cordless air duster electric nozzle is Light weight and small size, design and comfortable to hold and space saving, convenient to carry around. You can put it in your room or inside the car without taking up space.
  • Economical &Reusable: Built durable materials with a long-lasting battery,our CAGIWIRU air duster it's a sustainable alternative to disposable air cans.

What Epic Games is—and how large it says it is

Epic says it was founded in 1991 by CEO Tim Sweeney and is headquartered in Cary, North Carolina. Its ecosystem includes Fortnite, Fall Guys, Rocket League, the Epic Games Store, Unreal Engine and Epic Online Services.

According to Epic’s 2026 company description, its products account for more than 800 million accounts and more than 6 billion friend connections. Those are company-reported totals, and the wording covers the ecosystem rather than a count of active users on a particular day or month.

The strategy is unusually broad: Epic makes a major game, runs a digital storefront, provides online services and sells development technology used by other studios. That can create reinforcing network effects, but it also creates substantial operating commitments. A platform has to fund infrastructure, tools, support and long-term development even when a flagship game’s engagement softens.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Rank #2
EVEO® Screen Cleaner Spray Kit (Streak-Free) TV Screen Cleaner for Smart TV, Lcd, LEd, Oled | Computer Screen Cleaner Spray and Wipe Microfiber Cloth - TV, Monitor, Laptop, iPad, Car - 6.7oz 1 Pack
  • Screen Cleaner is Your Screen’s New Bestfriend! - EVEO is proud to present a screen cleaner that’s perfectly suited for your TV. Meet your new screen cleaner, computer screen cleaner, laptop cleaner, iPad cleaner, Macbook,tv cleaner or any other electronic device. Our screen cleaner spray and wipe along with the included plush microfiber cloth, easily removes dust, fingerprints & other smudges on the screen’s surface. Clean effectively for a streak-free screen
  • Gentle on your Screens - Our screen cleaner spray and wipes is compatible to be used even for the most sensitive LCD, LED, CRT, and OLED screens in proper use. Be at ease knowing that this product is compatible with all the major brands: LG, SONY, Samsung, Sharp, iPad, iPhone, Android screens, Kindle, PC monitors - we’ve got you covered! Can be used as LCD screen cleaner, tv cleaner, smart tv screen cleaner, and more
  • Premium Super Soft Plush Microfiber Cloth - Included in this efficient screen cleaning kit. This screen cleaner spray and wipe has our signature plush microfiber cloth specially designed to comply with screens and monitors and leave them streak-free. Has been shown to effectively absorbs stubborn stains, zero streaks, and no fiber shedding. Always use this together with our screen cleaner for the best results
  • Easy-to-Use Screen Cleaner Kit + microfiber cleaning cloth - The EVEO Screen Cleaning Kit will easily be your new favorite tool when it comes to taking care of the things you love most, quick and easy solution for a streak-free screen. Simply screw on the sprayer gun on the screen cleaner bottle. Spray the cleaning liquid onto the microfiber cloth, then wipe the screen until desired cleanliness & shine is achieved.
  • Quality Screen Care Kit Worth Purchasing - Enjoy a convenient Screen Cleaner anytime, anywhere you need it. Your satisfaction is our top priority. We stand behind the quality of our products and that’s why, you shouldn’t be worrying at all. We manufacture the Best Screen Cleaner. and can be used for laptop cleaning kit, laptop screen cleaner, tv screen cleaner for smart tv. MacBook screen cleaner, monitor cleaner or screen cleaner spray for electronic devices with microfiber cleaning cloth

Why more than 1,000 jobs were cut

Epic’s explanation identifies both company-specific and industry-wide pressures. It said Fortnite engagement declined beginning in 2025 and that its spending had moved well above its revenue. It also cited more than $500 million in identified cost savings.

Epic characterized some conditions as broader industry problems: slower growth, weaker consumer spending, tougher cost economics and console sales below the previous generation. It also named challenges closer to home, including Fortnite’s need for greater consistency, mobile optimization work and the long payoff period for its platform strategy.

In practical terms, the layoffs are an attempt to reduce the gap between what Epic spends and what it brings in while preserving the businesses it considers strategically essential. The announcement does not establish how quickly engagement can recover, which divisions absorbed the largest reductions or whether the savings target will be sufficient.

Rank #3
Sale
BladeHawks RGB Gaming Mouse Pad Extra Large Extended 31.5x12 Inch-Black | LED mouse pad with 14 lighting modes, covers keyboard & mouse, anti-slip rubber base, waterproof surface, USB powered
  • 【Large size】:Measuring 800 x 300 mm/ 31. 5×12 inches, which is wider and taller than others. Large mouse pad can perfectly fit your keyboard and mouse of any size, and there is also ample space for peripherals such as phones, tablets, etc.
  • 【LED backlight mouse pad】:Blade Hawks RGB mouse pad provides 7 static modes and 7 dynamic modes will give you the options you are looking for. Power-off memory function remembers the last lighting mode you selected. The super glow fiber Chroma will give you a colorful gaming setup that you want.
  • 【Anti-slip rubber base】:Made from Natural rubber, this gaming mousepad will firmly grip your desktop, allowing you to enjoy the ultimate precision in the games you are most passionate about. It also comes with a texture that enhances this ability even further.
  • 【Smooth and waterproof surface】: Micro-textured cloth surface, for extremely precise mouse control and a smooth movement. When liquid splashes on the gaming mouse pad, it forms water droplets and slides down. Will not delay your work or gameplay.
  • 【Plug and play】: This mouse and keyboard pad is powered by USB, plug and play, no driver required. One button control light modes. Press one time to change the lighting mode, press twice to change the brightness, press and hold about 3 seconds turn ON/OFF.

Support promised to affected employees

Epic said laid-off employees would receive at least four months of base pay. U.S. employees would also receive six months of Epic-paid health coverage. Those provisions describe the company’s stated severance and benefits response; they do not erase the personal and professional impact of losing a job.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

What Epic says it will do next

Epic’s reset has four connected parts:

  • More Fortnite content: fresh seasons, gameplay, story development and live events intended to rebuild recurring attention.
  • More reliable creator tools: improvements to the systems used by developers and creators making Fortnite experiences.
  • A stronger mobile offering: continued work on mobile optimization and reach.
  • An engine transition: moving from Unreal Engine 5 and UEFN toward Unreal Engine 6.

The plan is coherent on paper: make the flagship product more engaging, make the creator platform easier to use and preserve Unreal technology as a long-term foundation. But it also concentrates the recovery effort in the same ecosystem that is already under pressure.

Can another platform push solve a player-attention problem?

Editorial analysis: Epic’s proposed remedy may address execution weaknesses, but it does not automatically answer why players spent less time in Fortnite. New seasons and events can create spikes in attention; durable recovery depends on retention, quality and a reason to return after the marketing moment passes.

Rank #4
Sale
Vaydeer Wrist Rest for Keyboard and Mouse, Computer Ergonomic Wrist Support Pad, Soft Memory Foam Arm Cushion for Desk, Palm Hand Office Laptop Typing
  • 【Softer and More Comfortable】Vaydeer wrist rest has unique diamond pattern, which is the combination of softness and aesthetics. The materials of wrist rest are improved into higher quality memory foam and covered with silky smooth lycra. The computer wrist rest makes you as comfortable and cushiony as like rest your wrists on clouds.
  • 【Ergonomic Wrist Saver】The wrist rests for keyboard and mouse comes with a 17.32×3.15×0.83 inch keyboard wrist pad and a 5.94×3.15×0.83 inch mouse wrist support. Based on ergonomic design, the unique concave shape is the perfect fit for your wrist joints. The wrist rest pad fits most computer keyboards and laptops, improve hand and wrist posture, release your wrist and arm stress.
  • 【Non-Slip Rubber Bottom】Featuring an anti-skid silicone base on the bottom, this wrist keyboard support stays firmly in place on your desk, preventing the padding from sliding around, ensuring stable and consistent wrist support during extended computer sessions.
  • 【Better Experience & Pain Relief】Our keyboard arm rest is beneficial to alleviate the soreness caused by direct contact and friction between your arm and a hard desk surface, reducing the risk of wrist fatigue or carpal tunnel. The soft texture of memory foam can evenly distribute the pressure around your wrists and provide good support with just enough give.
  • 【Helpful in Multiple Scenarios】Whether you're working, studying, writing, typing, gaming, this keyboard and mouse rest combo is an essential accessory to add comfort and support to your hands and wrists. It’s also a great gift for men, women, family, friend, coworker, gamer, teacher, etc.

The same test applies to creator tools. Stability and capability can increase creator value, but only if creators can reach an audience and earn enough attention to justify their work. An Unreal Engine 6 transition could provide technical improvements, yet it also requires developers to absorb new workflows and gives Epic another major change to communicate and support.

Mobile reach is similarly important. Better optimization can expand access, but mobile growth is a distribution and product challenge, not merely a performance setting. Epic will need to show that the work improves the experience for actual players rather than adding another promise to an already crowded roadmap.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

What “touch grass” means in gaming culture

In gaming culture, “touch grass” usually means stepping away from online life and reconnecting with ordinary offline experience. It can be an insult, but it can also be advice to regain perspective.

Best Value
Sale
Under Desk Cable Management Tray No Drill, Metal Mesh Cable Management Under Desk with Clamp Mount, 2 Hole Cable Tray with Wire Management and Cord Organizer for Home Office Standing Desk
  • 【No Drill Mounted】Cable management tray can be assembled in as little as 3 minutes or less-simply. Side clips easily clampe the edge of desk, pass through the holes on the sides, and secure excess cables with baskets. Desk cable management supports inward or outward installation to meet your needs in different scenarios, and provides you with great convenience when collecting and organizing wires.
  • 【Rubber Pad Protects Desk】Wire organizer under desk built-in soft rubber pads on the clamp protect your desk from scratches, so you will not damage your furniture or office.
  • 【Sturdy and Beautiful】Cord management under desk is made of high-quality carbon steel and holds about 15 lbs. The wire basket has 2 holes on each side of the tray to enable your cables to pass freely. Cable baskets are suitable for desk thickness use from 0.4" to 2.4".
  • 【Space Saving & Keep Organized】Desk cable management tray holds all your power cords, outlet strips, USB hubs and computer transformers hidden from your feet, and the data cables will not enter the vacuum cleaner to keep your desk clean and tidy. Desk wire organizer is also suitable for use in the kitchen and outdoors.
  • 【Reduce Safety Risks】Cable tray under desk keeps all plugs away from your kids, no more worry about tripping. Using 2 holes wire tray saves extra space, helps you easily cabling and wire protection. The mesh design is not easy to accumulate dust, but avoids safety accidents caused by messy wires.

Epic art director Nate Wells used the phrase as creative guidance in 2025: “When you see really interesting work, it’s because it seems to come from somewhere else: an interest in history, an interest in science. Touch grass, read a book, throw a ball, get tackled once in a while. Get in at least one fight. Learn how to dance. Play the piano.”

Wells was discussing creative influences, not issuing a statement about Sweeney or Epic’s corporate strategy. Applying his idea to this situation is an editorial inference: a company building an enormous digital platform may benefit from paying attention to experiences, tastes and constraints outside its own ecosystem. That includes how people actually play, why they leave, what mobile users can access and what creators need when tools change.

Questions Epic now has to answer

Epic’s announcement provides plans, not outcomes. The important accountability questions are measurable:

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
  • Can Fortnite make engagement feel consistently worthwhile rather than dependent on occasional events?
  • Can Epic improve mobile access while maintaining a coherent cross-platform experience?
  • Will UEFN and Unreal Engine tools become more stable and useful during the move toward Unreal Engine 6?
  • Can the company restore sustainable economics after cutting more than 1,000 jobs?
  • Will creators and players trust the new direction enough to invest their time in it?

Those questions matter more than whether Epic can announce another feature, season or platform expansion. “Touch grass” is ultimately a demand to measure success in player reality, creator outcomes and financial sustainability—not in the size of the ecosystem alone.

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.