Over 1,000 employees were laid off at Epic Games, with many affected coming from Psyonix, the studio behind Rocket League, which was acquired by Epic in 2019. An Epic Games spokesperson stated that Rocket League remains a priority for the company, and the Psyonix team is still focused on developing the game. Rocket League recently achieved a milestone of 40,000 concurrent players in 2023. Psyonix has been actively providing seasonal content and bug fixes for Rocket League, with a recent update released on March 23, the day before the layoffs were announced. Psyonix has also contributed to other projects, including the Rocket Racing minigame in Fortnite and the mobile game Rocket League Sideswipe, launched in 2021. The studio has a long history of collaboration with Epic, dating back to the early 2000s. The future direction of the Psyonix team regarding Rocket League or Fortnite development remains uncertain.
AerialKnight’s DropShot is available on February 17 for Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, and PC via Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is also available on February 17 for the same platforms, featuring a first-person action-adventure experience. Avowed receives an update on February 17, introducing new playable races, a New Game Plus Mode, and a Photo Mode. Death Howl will launch on February 19 for Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, and PC on Game Pass Ultimate and Premium. EA Sports College Football 26 is available on February 19 for Cloud and Xbox Series X|S, allowing players to represent 136 FBS schools. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Complete Edition launches on February 19 for Cloud and Console. TCG Card Shop Simulator enters Game Preview on February 24 for multiple platforms. Dice A Million will be available on PC on February 25 with Xbox Game Pass. Towerborne releases as a complete game on February 26 for Console, Handheld, and PC. Final Fantasy III and Kingdom Come: Deliverance II are set for March 3 on multiple platforms. Menace entered Game Preview on February 5 for PC, and Diablo II: Resurrected was released on February 11 for Console and PC. Overwatch: Season 1: Conquest began on February 10, introducing new heroes. Microsoft Mahjong will feature in-game benefits on February 24 for PC. Titles leaving Game Pass on February 28 include Monster Train, Expeditions: A MudRunner Game, Injustice 2, and Middle Earth: Shadow of War.