Epic Games Is Allegedly Laying Off Almost 900 Employees
Epic Games, renowned for Unreal Engine and Fortnite, faces a significant workforce reduction, laying off about 16% or nearly 900 employees, as reported by Bloomberg. The company recently conveyed this news through an internal memo from CEO Tim Sweeney.
Sweeney admitted the challenging financial situation, citing unsustainable spending. He expressed optimism about avoiding layoffs but conceded that it was an unrealistic expectation. Nevertheless, he assured that there were no plans for further staff reductions beyond this point.
This downsizing will impact a total of 870 employees. Notably, the majority of cuts are expected to occur in departments that are not considered part of Epic’s ‘core development.’
In a poignant twist, one of the affected staff members is Ed Fear, director and writer at Mediatonic, known for titles like Murder by Numbers. Interestingly, Mediatonic had a rich history predating its 2021 acquisition by Epic Games. He expressed his feelings towards the layoff in a post via X.
While this workforce reduction is a significant shift for Epic Games, the company remains optimistic about its future. Transition periods often necessitate tough decisions, but Epic Games aims to emerge from this with a renewed focus on sustainable growth.