Fortnite has been hit by mass layoffs at Epic Games, which come alongside the removal of several game modes, including Festival Battle Stage.
Epic Games announced the layoffs of 1,000 employees on March 24, alongside confirmation that three game modes would be removed from Fortnite.
If you’re looking for precise details on when Festival Battle Stage will leave Fortnite, Insider Gaming has all the details.
When is Festival Battle Stage Being Removed From Fortnite?
The Battle Stage of Fortnite Festival will be taken offline in the next Fortnite update, which is scheduled for April 16, 2026.
In the 40.20 update, Fortnite Festival’s Battle Stage and the Ballistic game mode will both be removed from the game, having failed to attract a sustainable player base to keep the mode going.
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Battle Stage has struggled to attract a regular slew of players ever since its first introduction into Fortnite, with Fortnite.GG showing an all-time player peak of 2,833 players 14 months ago.
Those numbers pale in comparison to other game modes in Fortnite, including UEFN Creator maps, and the all-time concurrent count is ranked 2,942 for game modes in Fortnite.
Will Fortnite Festival Main Stage & Jam Stage be Removed?
No, Fortnite Festival’s Main Stage and Jam Stage will remain in Fortnite beyond the April 16 date, with Epic Games stating music remains a core part of the Fortnite experience.
In the statement confirming Battle Stage’s removal, Epic Games said that “music remains a major part of Fortnite,” and the team will “continue to improve Festival Main Stage and Jam Stage,” along with other music features available elsewhere.
- More Insider Gaming: When is Ballistic Being Removed From Fortnite?
There is no denying that the Festival mode has dropped significantly since it was first introduced; however, with a 24-hour concurrent player peak of just over 6,000 in Festival Main Stage, which pales in comparison to the all-time concurrent player peak of almost 250,000 over two years ago.
Of the pair, Jam Stage could be in the most threatened position, however, with a 24-hour peak of under 800, well adrift of the 85,000 all-time peak two years ago.
Are you disappointed by the removal of the Fortnite Festival Battle Stage? Share your thoughts in the Insider Gaming Discord.
For more Fortnite, check out the details of a Beyblade collab, and take a look at a surprising return leaked for this season.
