Epic Games Layoffs: Mediatonic Not Shut Down, But Devastating Impact for Employees
Earlier today, Epic Games made the difficult decision to lay off approximately 16% of its workforce, causing concern that Mediatonic, the developer of popular game Fall Guys, had been completely shut down. However, Epic Games has clarified that these rumors are unfounded, though it is evident that Mediatonic has been significantly affected by the layoffs.
Employees Affected and Their Reactions
Many affected employees have taken to social media to express their frustration and search for new employment opportunities. Ed Fear, the game director of Murder By Numbers, confirmed that he was one of the individuals impacted by the layoffs at Epic Games. He expressed his devastation at having to leave behind his talented colleagues at Mediatonic. An anonymous colleague created an image that portrays the emotional impact of the situation (see below).
Roles Lost and Correction of Reports
Among the roles lost in the layoffs were Fall Guys level designers, video editors, video producers, and artists. While social media was full of reports suggesting that all Mediatonic employees had been laid off, these reports have been deemed false. In response to inquiries from Kotaku, an Epic Games spokesperson clarified that the earlier reports were inaccurate and referred to an email from Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney, assuring continued investment in Fall Guys. The spokesperson also confirmed ongoing support for Fortnite and Rocket League.
Epic Games’ Acquisition of Mediatonic
Epic Games acquired Mediatonic in March 2021, resulting in the game Fall Guys being exclusively available on the Epic Games Store, while console versions remained unaffected. A year later, in June 2022, Fall Guys adopted a free-to-play model similar to the immensely popular Fortnite.
Latest Update and Future Rounds
Mere days before the layoffs, Fall Guys received the Fall Force update, introducing new features for Fall Guys Creative and promising the release of several new Rounds in the coming weeks. It remains uncertain if these planned rounds will still be released according to the previous schedule.