Big Epic cuts; Crimson Desert sells
Epic Games reportedly laid off more than 1,000 employees in moves that hit Fortnite development and studio structure. Meanwhile Crimson Desert has sold 3 million copies and is being praised for its addictiveness—two big, divergent headlines in gaming this week. (x.com)
Epic’s internal memo was posted March 24, 2026 and says the company is laying off “over 1000” employees because a Fortnite engagement downturn that began in 2025 left the business “spending significantly more than we’re making.” (epicgames.com) Epic said the head-count reduction is part of a plan to identify more than $500 million in cost savings, and reporters have pegged the cuts at roughly 20% of Epic’s workforce. (variety.com) Local reporting in Cary, North Carolina, identified roughly 200 affected roles at Epic’s headquarters, and coverage from game outlets says the round includes the shutdown or scaling back of some Fortnite modes and other internal projects as studio structure is reorganized. (wral.com) Epic’s employee support commitments include a minimum of four months’ base pay in severance, extended health coverage (six months in the U.S.), and accelerated stock-option vesting through January 2027 for impacted staff. (epicgames.com) Pearl Abyss announced Crimson Desert sold through three million copies worldwide within about five days of its March 19, 2026 launch, after moving two million units in the first 24 hours. (gematsu.com) Steam peak concurrent players approached 250,000 and the developer pushed multiple patches that moved Steam user reviews from “Mixed” toward “Very Positive” by addressing controls, performance, and quality-of-life complaints. (ign.com) Pearl Abyss’s shares jumped sharply after the sales milestone—reports put the intraday surge in the mid-to-high 20% range on March 25, 2026—and the company had invested roughly 200 billion won (about $133 million) in development over seven years. (respawn.outlookindia.com)
