All articles tagged with #fortnite
Unreal Engine’s X account posted a Porsche–Fortnite crossover image tied to the Cayenne Turbo Electric. After fans accused it of AI-generation style and noted Riot Games’ logo in the mock-up, the image was deleted and later re-uploaded with a clarification that it was Porsche-produced concept art, not Epic’s final car configurator. The episode raises questions about AI usage and internal QA in branded content.
Epic Games previews Unreal Engine 6 as a gradual, cross-project upgrade designed to unify high-end development with Fortnite’s fast, live-service workflows, including a public Rocket League demo on UE6. Preview builds are expected in about 2.5 years, with a full release targeted for 2028, while UE5 continues to receive updates and tooling aims to work seamlessly across standalone titles and ecosystem experiences.
Fortnite has reappeared on the iOS App Store in most markets worldwide (Australia excluded), with Epic Games calling the move the start of a 'final battle' against Apple over App Store commissions. The rollout follows U.S. developments and hinges on a forthcoming court-ordered transparency process about Apple’s fees, while the Ninth Circuit sends the case back to Judge Rogers and Australia remains blocked by ongoing terms.
Fortnite has returned to Apple's App Store worldwide (excluding Australia) as Epic Games proclaims the beginning of the end of the Apple Tax in the ongoing Epic v. Apple case, arguing regulators worldwide will force lower fees and fairer terms; Epic’s court victory last year paved the way for the comeback, which mirrors Fortnite’s return to Google Play earlier this year and signals Epic’s continued push to open app stores to more competition.
Epic Games says it’s using AI tooling to boost efficiency in its games and development workflows, not to replace workers; a Fortnite executive said tasks that once took hours can be shortened with AI, and Epic will steer how AI is integrated. Sony also touts AI as the future of game development in partnership with Bandai Namco.
Sony's PlayStation 5 Digital Edition is on sale at Sony's PS Direct store for $399.99, a $200 discount from the going price at other retailers. The bundle includes the PS5 Digital Edition, a DualSense controller, power and HDMI cables, and Fortnite cosmetics; a disc-drive add-on is available for $79.99 if you want to play physical discs.
Fortnite and Rocket League launched the Rivals & Rockets crossover, offering a free Dueling Dragons Jackie Fortnite skin unlocked by completing five Rocket League online-match quests and a free Havoc car body unlocked by completing five of six Fortnite Battle Royale quests; the rewards apply to both games, and the event runs until April 30, 2026. The Rocket League tasks are quick (about 45 minutes with modes like Heatseeker), while the Fortnite challenges are straightforward and can be finished in a few matches.
Fortnite’s Save The World PvE mode is now free-to-play across Xbox and other platforms, while Ballistic and Festival Battle Stage have been permanently removed from the main Xbox Fortnite app; Fortnite Festival gains Pro Vocals and Pro Drums support, with a CRKD drum-kit controller planned for Xbox in 2026.
Fortnite’s PvE co-op Save the World mode is going free-to-play on April 16, 2026 and will come to Switch 2 (alongside other platforms), but won’t be available on the original Switch or mobile; pre-registrants will receive rewards including a Save the World hero, and Epic will gift superchargers, vouchers and gold to current players on launch.
A Los Angeles Times report, citing two former Epic Games Store employees, says players chase free games on Epic but quickly return to Steam, while the storefront remains profitable but is derided for rushed releases and a growth-at-all-costs approach. Epic reports 78 million MAU and $400 million earned from non-Epic titles in 2025, is pushing a unified PC/mobile storefront, pursues major bets like a Disney extraction shooter, and has cut more than 1,000 jobs, prompting questions about its long-term strategy.
Bloomberg and others report Epic Games is developing a Disney-themed extraction shooter as part of a $1.5B collaboration with Disney, potentially launching in November 2026. The game reportedly resembles Arc Raiders in mechanics but would feature Disney characters, with it unclear whether it will be a standalone title or a new Fortnite mode. Internal reviews are said to be lukewarm, though the project is described as the most promising of the three in development, and both companies reiterate their ongoing partnership.
Rumors suggest Disney may pursue acquiring Epic Games, which would put Unreal Engine under Disney’s umbrella and could influence the engine’s pricing, licensing, and the broader gaming ecosystem. Disney already invested $1.5 billion in Epic, while Epic has faced layoffs and ongoing turnover. Developers are split: some fear a Disney takeover could constrain access or change profits-sharing, while others see potential benefits from Disney’s vast R&D, Imagineering know-how, and cross-media integration. Unreal Engine’s prominence—being widely used in games, film, and animation—means a Disney-owned path could significantly shift how the tool evolves and is priced for indie developers and larger studios alike.
A former Disney and TikTok executive argues that Disney should double down on gaming by buying Epic Games (or another major game asset) to drive growth, a view echoed by reports that Disney leadership is weighing such a deal; Tim Sweeney’s Epic remains founder-controlled, and while Disney has explored gaming partnerships and licensing (including Fortnite-related projects), no acquisition has materialized amid mixed internal opinions.
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney apologized after a mass layoff of more than 1,000 employees left a terminally ill worker without life insurance; the company said it will resolve the insurance issue and extend health coverage, while explaining cuts were driven by Fortnite’s downturn. The layoffs included severance of at least four months’ base pay and six months of health coverage for US staff, along with accelerated stock options as Epic refines its cost structure.
Epic Games laid off more than 1,000 workers, including Mike Prinke, a programmer with terminal brain cancer; the layoff would cause his life insurance to lapse, forcing his family to seek new coverage despite a pre-existing condition. Epic later said it is in contact with the family and will resolve the insurance issue, emphasizing that medical information was not a factor in the layoff.