CEO of Epic Video games apologizes after shedding worker with terminal mind most cancers

[ad_1] The chief of the corporate that created Fortnite, a well-liked on-line recreation, has issued an apology following backlash after current mass layoffs price an worker with terminal mind most cancers his job – and his life insurance coverage.

On Sunday, Tim Sweeney, the Epic Video games chief government, apologized after Jenni Griffin, the spouse of Mike Prinke, a laid-off worker, revealed on social media that the lack of her husband’s job additionally meant he was shedding his life insurance coverage.

“Epic is in touch with the household and can resolve the insurance coverage for them,” Sweeney mentioned in an X submit in response to Griffin. “There's excessive confidentiality round medical info, and it was not an element on this layoff resolution. Sorry to everybody for not recognizing this terribly painful scenario and dealing with it upfront.”

Sweeney’s Epic Video games has annual earnings of $4bn. Its Fortnite is the world’s fourth-most-played PC recreation.

In a Fb submit, Griffin wrote: “I by no means imagined I'd be writing one thing like this. My husband, Mike, was lately laid off together with over a thousand others at Epic Video games. What makes this completely different for our household is that Mike is presently combating terminal mind most cancers. Due to the layoff, we didn’t simply lose earnings – we misplaced his life insurance coverage.”

Griffin added: “And since his situation is now thought of a pre-existing situation, he can’t get new protection. So now, as I face the fact of shedding my husband … I’m additionally dealing with the fact of what kind of funeral/burial I can afford … I actually imagine that if the individuals who made this resolution understood the complete human impression, they might not have supposed this final result.”

She continued, “I’m sharing this within the hope that it reaches the appropriate folks. In the event you work at or know somebody linked to Mike’s former employer, please assist this story attain them.”

Accompanying Griffin’s assertion was an image of Prinke’s mind scan, which was captioned: “There are dozens of tumors actively rising, however this one is probably the most terrifying as it's aggressively taking on house within the entrance lobe.”

Her submit shortly went viral and prompted Sweeney to reply.

Griffin later confirmed that Epic Video games had reached out, writing on Fb on Sunday: “We're in talks now with the suitable folks! Will replace quickly, probably by Tuesday. Thanks.”

Epic Video games introduced the mass layoffs on 24 March. Sweeney justified the cuts by saying: “The downturn in Fortnite engagement that began in 2025 means we’re spending considerably greater than we’re making, and we now have to make main cuts to maintain the corporate funded. This layoff, along with over [$500m] of recognized price financial savings in contracting, advertising, and shutting some open roles places us in a extra secure place.”

He added that affected workers would obtain a severance bundle, together with not less than 4 months of base pay, together with different facets tied to tenure on the firm.

As well as, Sweeney mentioned Epic would lengthen paid healthcare protection. The corporate deliberate for laid-off US workers to obtain six months of protection, together with accelerated inventory choices.