Epic Games trims Fortnite content, ending three modes while the company cuts 1,000 jobs
Epic acknowledged the modes failed to retain a large enough audience, prompting their gradual removal.
Despite being one of the top titles in terms of metrics and goals, Fortnite is struggling. This morning, Epic Games announced the layoff of 1,000 employees. As a result, three Fortnite game modes will also be removed in an effort to cut costs.
Fortnite is saying goodbye to these game modes
Via its official X account (formerly Twitter), Fortnite announced that Rocket Racing, Ballistic, and Festival Battle Stages will be removed later this year. “We’ve built a lot of Fortnite modes, and in some cases we failed to build something awesome enough to attract and retain a large player base,” the post reads. “We’re grateful to everyone who played.”
— Fortnite Status (@FortniteStatus) March 24, 2026
There’s still time for a few last matches if you were part of that small segment of the community that explored every corner of the Fortnite multiverse. The first to go will be the first-person mode Ballistic, as well as Festival Battle Stage (a PvP mode within Fortnite Festival), both of which will be removed with update 40.20 on April 16. Meanwhile, Rocket Racing, the racing mode, will have a longer lifespan, being removed in October 2026.
Player-created content within Rocket Racing will be removed, though some items can be transferred to new islands within the game to prevent them from being deleted. Custom vehicles and items for the mode will remain usable in Fortnite. The closure of Festival Battle Stage does not mean that Fortnite will eventually remove music from the game; it has already become part of its Battle Passes, and the music has become a purchasable item that has been in constant rotation. “Music remains a major part of Fortnite, and we’ll continue to improve Festival Main Stage and Jam Stage, and the music features that are available everywhere in Fortnite,” said Epic.
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Following the controversy sparked by the new V-Bucks prices ahead of the new season, it remains to be seen whether Epic Games can get back on track and return to the path of success they were on before.
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