On March 24, Epic Games released a statement that it had terminated 1,000 employees following a downturn in player engagement with its flagship battle royale, Fortnite. In addition to the layoffs, Epic Games also revealed that three separate Fortnite game modes, Rocket Racing, Ballistic, and Festival Battle Stage, are scheduled to permanently go offline in 2026. Despite a string of recent collaborations, in addition to the dozens of pop-culture crossovers that have helped make Fortnite popular over the years, Epic Games has made it clear that the company is facing financial struggles. While the affected employees have been the first to feel the impact of these troubles behind the scenes, players are also due to see the consequences of Fortnite‘s restructuring when the three game modes are permanently removed in the coming months.
When Fortnite first launched in 2017, very few could have predicted just how popular the game would become. Fortnite not only cemented itself as a juggernaut of the battle royale genre but also set itself apart from the competition with a number of hit collaborations with major brands. Stranger Things, Star Wars, Marvel, and WWE are just a handful of the many different partnerships Fortnite has featured over the years, with each new crossover introducing some of the most beloved characters and franchises into the high-octane video game. Even though the highly sought-after in-game cosmetics helped drive Fortnite to new heights, it seems the story behind the flashy trailers and enthusiastic reveals is less than stellar, as the game best-known for its content additions is not only reeling from the major Epic Games layoffs but is also having multiple features awaiting the axe.
Some Fortnite Players Want the Option to Disable Certain Skins
Fortnite players are wanting Epic Games to make a change to the battle royale’s skin system, asking for the ability to disable specific skins.
Which Fortnite Game Modes are Being Removed?
- Ballistic (April 16, 2026)
- Festival Battle Stage (April 16, 2026)
- Rocket Racing (October 2026)
Epic Games confirmed via a social media post that Fortnite‘s Rocket Racing, Ballistic, and Festival Battle Stage game modes are set to be officially shutdown in 2026. Rocket Racing will be fully removed from Fortnite in October, while Ballistic and Festival Battle Stage will both be terminated on April 16. Rocket Racing Quests will no longer be available as early as the week of March 30, and the current track creation template in UEFN will be removed. While some previously planned updates for Fortnite, including for Rocket Racing, will still be released in April, no further Ranked rewards for the mode will be offered. Creators will have the option of moving any compatible custom cars, tracks, or other content to standalone UEFN islands before October. Ballistic and Festival Battle Stage will become unavailable with the 40.20 release, though FPS tools will remain in UEFN.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Easy (5)Medium (7)Hard (10)
The other two Fortnite Festival modes, Festival Main Stage and Festival Jam Stage, will be unaffected by Festival Battle Stage’s removal. Curiously, a recent rumor of a new game mode coming to Fortnite included the possibility of Ballistic being shut down, but it is unknown at this time if there is any connection between the formal announcement and the alleged insider information. Audiences have already begun speculating on whether potential upcoming collaborations will now be canceled to cutback on IP licensing expenses. Fortnite recently launched the Game of Thrones Daenarys, Jon Snow, and Night King skins, and many fans have been looking forward to the Looney Tunes characters set to join the battle royale game. Only time will tell if any other as-yet-unannounced crossovers will be put on the back burner while Epic Games sorts out its apparent financial woes.
The video game industry continues to experience severe turbulence. Epic Games is just one of many AAA studios to announce major restructurings via terminations, with Rockstar, Embracer Group, Microsoft, Sony, and Ubisoft teams hit by layoffs since 2023. Executives often point to bloated budgets and excessive hiring as the reasons for corporate financial struggles, and there is often a promise of fans not having to worry about feeling any impact from these changes. Unfortunately, it would seem that the Epic Games layoffs are having a more direct impact on players, and many are keeping their fingers crossed that Rocket Racing, Ballistic, and Festival Battle Stage will be the only Fortnite game modes getting cut in the midst of Epic’s troubles.
- Released
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September 26, 2017
- ESRB
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T for Teen – Diverse Content: Discretion Advised, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
