Layoffs at Epic Games are significantly impacting the Fortnite competitive arena. As detailed in a series of tweets by Fortnite Esports Operations Manager, Jasmine Alson, on Sep. 30, several essential backstage personnel have been impacted by these cuts. To compound matters, it appears that some of the gamers they used to serve have been knowingly taunting the people who were laid-off.
In the coming October, Epic Games is gearing to hold the FNCS Global Championship in Copenhagen. Detailed plans for the event’s execution are presumably already finalized. However, both, the layoffs’ news and the gamers’ dismissive attitude, are indeed disheartening.
“These are the same gamers who I see taunting my colleagues who just lost their jobs, their economic stability, and so much more. The same gamers who gripe with us over a typo. It’s incredibly disheartening,” Alson stated on social media.
Job loss is a challenging ordeal, and more often than not, gamers tend to lack sensitivity towards the people who develop the games they enjoy. While no game developer is without fault, it is unreasonable to rejoice at the downsizing of the industry that pays your bills, regardless of your personal sentiments towards any affected workers.
As Alson suggests, the show must continue, with a large-scale tournament in Denmark looming. However, the event will lack the presence of many individuals who devoted substantial portions of their lives to making the Fortnite competitive series the spectacle it is today. Hopefully, the players’ attitudes become more compassionate and everyone laid-off secures employment soon.
Author Biographies