Following a metaverse-inspired shift of its well-known online game Fortnite, video game maker Epic Games is letting go of roughly 16% of its workforce.According to CEO Tim Sweeney’s memo to staff on Thursday, the layoffs will effect 830 employees of Epic Games.
Epic Games has been “growing Fortnite as a metaverse-inspired ecosystem for creators,” according to Sweeney. The game’s growth is now primarily driven by creator content, meaning lower revenue for Epic as the revenue is increasingly divided.
“I had long been optimistic that we could power through this transition without layoffs, but in retrospect I see that this was unrealistic,” Sweeney added.
The term “metaverse” refers to a hypothetical virtual world where the internet transforms into a fully immersive space that may be used for activities such as work, leisure, socializing, and events.Epic Games’ announcement suggests that significant video game creators have been working hard to harness it, even if it is still in its very early phases of development.