Epic Games is reshaping its slate in the wake of major layoffs, sunsetting three Fortnite modes on a tight timeline while Aquiris, the studio behind the Horizon Chase series, prepares to delist the first two entries from storefronts. Here’s what’s going, what’s sticking around, why this is happening, and what players and creators should do next.
When a company as large as Epic pivots, the ripple hits players, creators, and entire communities at once. That’s what we’re seeing now. Alongside news of over a thousand job cuts, Epic confirmed it’s winding down three Fortnite offerings: Ballistic, Festival’s Battle Stage, and Rocket Racing. Two go first, one follows later, and there’s nuance about tools and content migration that creators should pay attention to.
On a separate but adjacent front, Aquiris is preparing to pull Horizon Chase and Horizon Chase Turbo from sale, with only Horizon Chase 2 staying in circulation. If you have fond memories of 90s-style slipstream sprints and sun-soaked synths, that delisting date matters.
What’s changing in Fortnite
- Ballistic and Festival’s Battle Stage are scheduled to retire alongside the release of version 40.20. You can keep playing both up until that update lands.
- Rocket Racing will remain playable for a while longer, with its shutdown targeted for October. When that happens, islands built with the Rocket Racing template will also stop being available.
- Your cars aren’t disappearing. Epic says your Vehicle Locker sticks with you, and you’ll still be able to drive your customized rides elsewhere in Fortnite.
- Creation tools are being refactored rather than removed. FPS-style tools introduced with Ballistic are set to stay in Fortnite’s Unreal Editor. On the racing side, Epic is folding car physics, hazards, and track-building features (including spline-based track tools and speed boosts) into the base toolset so creators can continue to build custom racing islands without relying on the Rocket Racing template.
- Other Festival content remains. Main Stage and Jam Stage aren’t part of the sunset and continue as playable pillars of that music experience.
In plain terms: the specific playlists are going away, but much of the underlying tech will live on. If you’re a creator who’s built content atop Rocket Racing’s template, you’ll want to plan a migration path. Epic has indicated that compatible content can be moved to standalone Unreal Editor islands before Rocket Racing’s sunset, and the new base tools should cover the core building blocks you need.
Why this is happening Epic has been candid that not every experiment found a large or durable audience. Modes in Fortnite live and die by discovery, retention, and creator energy; some ignite overnight, others struggle to elbow in next to the game’s heavy hitters. With layoffs tightening resources, it makes sense that Epic is pruning projects that weren’t pulling their weight while consolidating the best tech into the broader toolkit.
If you’ve played Fortnite for a while, this cycle isn’t new. The platform thrives by shipping bold ideas, measuring what sticks, then iterating. What’s different now is the scale and speed of the change—and how it intersects with the creator economy that’s sprung up around Unreal Editor for Fortnite. The message this time isn’t “racing is dead” or “music is over”; it’s “the format is changing, bring your fun with you.”
What players should do before the Fortnite sunsets
- Try the modes while they last. If you’ve been meaning to grind a few more Ballistic matches or settle a score on Battle Stage, now’s the window.
- Save your favorites. Capture clips, snap screenshots, and bookmark islands you love so you’ve got a record for later.
- Prep for migration. If you build in UEFN, audit any islands that lean on Rocket Racing’s template and plan to recreate them using the incoming base tools. Keep an eye on patch notes around v40.20 and the subsequent updates that add racing features to the core editor.
- Don’t panic about your garage. Your Vehicle Locker and car cosmetics are slated to remain usable elsewhere in Fortnite.
Horizon Chase and Turbo are being delisted Aquiris has announced that Horizon Chase and Horizon Chase Turbo will be removed from digital storefronts on June 1. Horizon Chase 2 remains available. While no detailed rationale was given, it’s common for studios to consolidate around their actively developed entry, especially amid broader organizational changes.
If you’ve never played the originals, Horizon Chase Turbo in particular is a love letter to golden-age arcade racing. It nails that breezy, high-speed flow: ghost-chasing lines, perfect-top-gear corners, and highway sunsets that look like they were painted with synth pads. The handling sits somewhere between OutRun and Top Gear, with short, punchy events that always tempt you into one more run.
What the delistings likely mean for you
- If you already own them: In many cases, delisted games remain downloadable for existing owners on the same platform account, though this can vary by platform and region. It’s wise to install or re-download before the deadline if you’re worried, and keep local backups where possible on PC.
- If you don’t own them yet: If you’re curious, grab them before June 1. After that, new purchases will likely be unavailable.
- Post-delisting support: Online features and updates often wind down over time. Don’t count on long-term patching, but single-player content should remain intact for those who have it installed.
Why this stings Delistings and sunsets always hurt because they shrink the playground. Fortnite’s evolving playlists and the Horizon Chase catalog both represent distinct flavors of play. One reimagines the shooter-platform as an everything-engine. The other preserves pure arcade speed with modern polish. Losing easy access to either, even partially, makes gaming feel a bit smaller.
At the same time, there’s a silver lining for creators and players who value the tech more than the playlist. Epic unbundling its racing and FPS tools from specific modes should make the sandbox more resilient in the long run. If the fun is in the building blocks, giving everyone access without anchoring it to a single playlist could invite more variety, not less.
A few parting suggestions
- For Fortnite racers and builders: Sketch your dream track now. With car physics, hazards, and spline tracks folding into the base editor, you’ll be able to assemble your own festival of speed and keep it alive regardless of official playlists.
- For Ballistic fans: Keep tabs on the FPS toolset and watch what the creator community does next. Expect a wave of experimental arenas as builders remix gadgets, traversal, and time-to-kill in fresh ways.
- For Horizon Chase faithful: If Turbo’s been on your wishlist forever, don’t wait. Install, savor the world tour, chase those perfect lines, and maybe set a few personal bests before the storefront lights dim.
Big picture, this moment is a reminder of how fluid live gaming has become. The best way to keep your favorites alive is to play them, share them, and—when the tools allow—build the things you want to see. The platforms will keep moving. The culture we build on top decides what sticks.
