Epic Video games have introduced that they are shedding over 1000 employees right this moment, March twenty fourth. Within the wake of that information, the publishers have introduced that three Fortnite modes are being completely sunsetted. In the meantime, one of many studios Epic personal – Horizon Chase builders Aquiris – have introduced plans to drag downloads for the primary two video games of their arcade racing collection offline later this yr.
First, Fortnite. Rocket Racing, Ballistic, and the Pageant Battle Stage mode are all set to go offline at numerous factors in 2026, Epic introduced in a tweet. “We have constructed a number of Fortnite modes, and in some circumstances we did not construct one thing superior sufficient to draw and retain a big participant base,” the publishers wrote.
The primary two modes to vanish will likely be Ballistic and the Pageant Battle Stage, each of that are set to make their exits on April sixteenth this yr, alongside the arrival of the sport’s model 40.20. You can play each modes up till they go, with Epic emphasising that Ballistic’s FPS-themed instruments for Fortnite’s Unreal editor will likely be sticking round – as will the sport’s two different music-related modes, the Pageant’s Essential Stage and Jam Stage.
Rocket Racing, in the meantime, will stick round till October this yr, with the entire Unreal editor islands constructed utilizing its template following it out of the door. “Nothing modifications together with your Automobile Locker and you may nonetheless use your customised automobiles in Fortnite,” Epic wrote. “For builders constructing automotive content material, in April we’re including automotive physics, hazards, and track-building instruments (together with the Observe Spline instrument and Velocity Enhance gadgets) to the bottom [Fortnite Unreal editor] toolset. Builders may even have the ability to construct customized racing islands with jumps, boosts, and drifting. Earlier than October, builders will have the ability to transfer suitable Rocket Racing content material over to standalone [Unreal editor-made} islands.”
Shortly after Epic introduced the departure of these modes, Brazilian devs Aquiris put out a tweet of their very own revealing that Horizon Chase and Horizon Chase Turbo will now not be accessible to obtain as of June 1st this yr. The newest entry within the retro-inspired arcade racing collection Horizon Chase 2, will stay grabbable, suggesting this can be a layoff-related yanking of any video games past the one at the moment being pushed or labored on. It is a rattling disgrace. Horizon Chase Turbo’s the entry I’ve performed essentially the most of and I dug its Amiga-style vertical street scrolling as a lot as Graham (RPS in peace) did.
For extra Horizon Chase Turbo love, give Brendy (additionally RPS in peace)’s entry on it in our greatest racing video games listing a learn, although you have probably not received too lengthy to take action as this information means I will must get my replace motor in gear at some point.
