Jioplaygame’s Press Start Weekly, 1st April 2026
Epic cuts 1,000+ jobs as Fortnite engagement craters
On 24th March, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney confirmed layoffs of more than 1,000 people (around 20% of the company), citing a “downturn in Fortnite engagement that started in 2025.” This is a company that still made over $6 billion in revenue last year. The numbers tell an uncomfortable story: monthly playtime dropped from 29 hours in 2023 to around 15 in 2025, with peak players on PlayStation and Xbox down 28% in the same window. Roblox has overtaken Fortnite in both average daily playtime and total visits for the first time. Analysts point to incoming global inflation pressure, including economic fallout from the Middle East conflict, as a headwind that will make recovery harder. Sweeney was quick to say the cuts are unrelated to AI, though the industry remains sceptical. If the most profitable free-to-play game on the planet can’t keep a studio this size funded, what does that say about everyone else?
Another Sony studio gone
Sony has shut down Dark Outlaw Games, the first-party studio founded by Call of Duty veteran Jason Blundell just one year ago. It never announced a project. Blundell’s previous PlayStation venture (Deviation Games) was also closed in 2024 after Sony pulled funding on a project reportedly budgeted at over $200 million. This follows Bluepoint Games being shuttered in February, making it two first-party closures in under 30 days. Around 50 additional staff across PlayStation’s mobile teams were also cut. Sony cited “long-term sustainability.” (Bloomberg, Kotaku)
PS5 prices up globally — SEA pricing still TBC
Effective 2nd April, Sony is raising PS5 prices across the US ($649.99 standard, up $100), Japan (¥97,980), UK, and Europe. The PS5 Pro will hit $899.99 in the US. Sony cites rising memory costs, driven partly by AI data centre demand. For readers in Singapore and the region: Sony’s SEA blog confirms that updated pricing for Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam will follow separately. Safe to assume the hike is coming to this region too.
Marathon sales figures are in, and it’s awkward for a Sony studio
Alinea Analytics estimates Bungie’s extraction shooter has moved around 1.2 million copies since its March 5 launch (roughly $55M in revenue). Nearly 70% of those sales are on PC via Steam, with PS5 accounting for just 19%, despite Bungie being Sony-owned. Marathon is Bungie’s first major project in over a decade following the Destiny series, which makes the muted PS5 performance a particularly awkward number for Sony. Bungie insists content plans are unchanged. Sony has said nothing.
Square Enix tops Metacritic publisher rankings, with Capcom third
Metacritic’s 16th Annual Publisher Rankings are out, and Square Enix has claimed the top spot for the first time in the list’s history, averaging a Metascore of 84 across nine releases (all positively reviewed). FF7 Rebirth’s PC port led at 90, with FF Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles and Dragon Quest I&II HD-2D Remake at 88. Capcom took third place (322.2 points), led by Monster Hunter Wilds and Resident Evil Requiem. It marks the fourth consecutive year a Japanese publisher has topped the rankings.
ALSO NOTED
- Super Meat Boy 3D — out yesterday (31st March) on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Game Pass. Team Meat’s cult platformer goes 3D.
- Legacy of Kain: Ascendance — out yesterday on PS5 and Xbox. Nosgoth returns as a pixel-art action platformer from Crystal Dynamics.
- Grime II — out yesterday on PS5, Xbox, PC. The soulslike sequel arrives darker and more ambitious.
- Coffee Talk Tokyo — out 5th March on PC and consoles. The cozy visual novel series moves to Japan, developed by Toge Productions (Indonesia). A Southeast Asian studio worth supporting.
- Slay the Spire 2 — in Early Access since 5th March (PC). Two new characters, new engine, same compulsive loop. Already one of the year’s best-reviewed releases.
- Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection — out 27th March on PS5, PS4, Switch, Switch 2, Xbox, PC. Long-overdue collection of the GBA-era spinoff.
- Xbox Games Showcase confirmed for June 2026, followed by a Gears of War: E-Day Direct.
- Capcom confirms new unannounced titles for FY2026-27. Pragmata drops 17th April, earlier than expected.
- GTA 6 — a former dev’s LinkedIn profile hints at a new feature ahead of 19th November. Rockstar silent, internet loud.
