Epic Games to lay off more than 1,000 workers, including 211 in Triangle amid Fortnite downturn
By Elaina Athans
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CARY, North Carolina (WTVD) — Epic Games is cutting more than 1,000 jobs as the company faces a sharp downturn in Fortnite engagement and broader struggles across the gaming industry.
The North Carolina Department of Commerce said 211 Triangle employees will lose their jobs at the Cary location.
CEO Tim Sweeney said in letter to employees that “the layoffs aren’t related to AI,” but that Epic is facing industry-wide challenges.
He apologized for the nationwide layoffs and explained that “the downturn in Fortnite engagement that started in 2025 means we’re spending significantly more than we’re making.”
In addition to layoffs, Epic said it has identified more than $500 million in cost-saving measures across contracting, marketing and unfilled roles.
It’s the latest gaming company to announce cuts.
The developer Red Storm filed a notice last week that it would lay off more than 100 employees from its Cary location.
The company cited “economic forces are the reason for the layoffs.”
NC State’s esports department does some collaborations with Epic.
Director Cody Eisen said gaming is still extremely popular, but there are more options these days and new companies are bringing products to market.
“There’s still a huge demand for it. I think companies are just trying to shift the resources right now with everything evolving,” said Eisen. “There’s a lot of more opportunities where gaming is actually being applied to, like education and use as a tool for learning. I think that’s we’re just seeing a shift of where companies are putting their resources.”
Epic purchased the old Cary Town Center mall a few years back to build a new corporate headquarters; however, last year, plans to rezone were withdrawn because of inactivity.
ABC11 asked Cary officials whether there has been any movement since 2025 to get the project off the ground. A spokesperson says there have been no changes or updates to share.
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