Lead Technical Artist
About the job
- Experience shipping and supporting a live-service game.
- Strong professional experience in technical art for games, including contributions to a shipped title or comparably complex production.
- Experience leading or mentoring Technical Artists and coordinating technical work across disciplines.
- Practical knowledge of real-time rendering, profiling, content optimization, and performance budgets.
- Experience with world-building pipelines, procedural workflows, LOD systems, and content streaming.
- Proficiency with Unreal Engine, Unity, or a proprietary game engine.
- Scripting or programming experience for tool development using Python, C#, or C++.
- Familiarity with shader and material development, and tools such as Houdini, Maya, or Blender.
- Problem-solving, communication, and prioritization skills, with an appreciation for artistic quality.
- Profile game content and resolve performance bottlenecks in collaboration with Art and Engineering.
- Optimize geometry, materials, shaders, textures, lighting, foliage, and visual effects to meet established performance and memory budgets.
- Help artists apply best practices for level of detail systems, instancing, streaming, and content scalability across target platforms.
- Conduct content reviews and develop validation tools to identify technical issues early.
- Develop and maintain tools that support efficient environment creation, including terrain, foliage, procedural generation, and asset placement.
- Partner with Environment Art and Level Design to improve world-building workflows and troubleshoot production issues.
- Implement established standards for modular assets, materials, and content organization.
- Document tools and workflows, helping artists adopt them effectively.
- Lead the day-to-day work of a small Technical Art team, coordinating priorities and deliverables with Production and technical leadership.
- Mentor Technical Artists through feedback, technical reviews, and hands-on problem-solving.
- Balance individual contributions with delegation, giving team members clear ownership and opportunities to grow.
- Communicate progress, dependencies, and technical risks to project leadership.
- Coordinate initiatives with Technical Art Leads on other projects working in the same development environment.
- Help establish practical usage guidelines and train artists on approved workflows, following studio policies for intellectual property, licensing, and data security.
- Evaluate results against quality and efficiency goals, recommending which workflows to refine or expand.
About the company
Epic Games develops and publishes popular video games and provides development tools and online services for other studios. It creates games like Fortnite across multiple platforms and monetizes via game sales, in-game purchases, and Battle Pass subscriptions; it also licenses Unreal Engine to other developers and offers Epic Online Services for multiplayer and backend support. Epic Games differentiates itself by combining in-house game development with a widely used game engine and a built-in set of backend services, creating an integrated ecosystem for players and developers. Its goal is to entertain players with engaging games while helping other developers build, operate, and grow their own titles.
Company Size
10,001+
Company Stage
Late Stage VC
Total Funding
$8.6B
Headquarters
Cary, North Carolina
Founded
1991
Get referred to Epic Games
See people who can refer or advise you
Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Fortnitemares 2026 launched October 1, 2026, with FNAF and multiple horror crossovers.
- Epic announced Unreal Engine 6 on June 17, 2026, targeting early access in 2027.
- FNCS 2027 returned to Trios on September 27, 2026, after over one million votes.
What critics are saying
- Epic cut 1,000 jobs on March 24, 2026, after Fortnite engagement fell since 2025.
- The Dutch SMC filed a September 24, 2026, €100 million Fortnite dark-patterns mass claim.
- Rotterdam upheld ACM's January 14, 2026, €1.125 million child-targeting fine, inviting wider scrutiny.
What makes Epic Games unique
- Fortnite and UEFN created a live creator economy; Epic paid developers $1 billion by 2026.
- Unreal Engine 6, unveiled June 17, 2026, ties Verse, UEFN, and cross-game portability together.
- Epic owns Fortnite, store, and engine, letting it control distribution, monetization, and tooling.
Help us improve and share your feedback! Did you find this helpful?
Benefits
Health coverage - 100% of the premiums for both you and your dependents. Our coverage includes Medical, Dental, a Vision HRA, Long Term Disability, Life Insurance & a 401k with competitive match and profit share
Robust mental well-being programs & free therapy and coaching for employees & dependents
Unlimited PTO & sick time
Paid sabbatical
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↑ 0%1 year growth
↑ 0%2 year growth
↑ 1%Fortnite Obsession collab confirmed for Fortnitemares October 1. Key Takeaways * Fortnite Obsession collab confirmed for October 1 via One Wish Willow flash frame and Capstone Studios copyright credit in the Fortnitemares 2026 trailer. * Players expect a Nikki skin and One Wish Willow Back Bling based on fan concepts that went viral earlier in 2026. * Fortnitemares 2026 also brings Five Nights at Freddy's, Nightmare on Elm Street, The Purge, Beetlejuice, and Slender Man. Epic Games dropped the Fortnitemares 2026 trailer on September 29 and buried the Fortnite Obsession collab confirmation inside it. A flash frame showed a pair of hands holding the One Wish Willow box. The end-credit reads: "Obsession and related elements Capstone Studios Corp - All Rights Reserved." October 1 is when everything lands with update v42.30. How the Fortnite Obsession collab got confirmed. Two things in the Fortnitemares 2026 trailer sealed it. First, the One Wish Willow - the iconic item from the 2026 horror movie - appeared for a split second with a Fortnite character holding it. Second, the end-credit frame included a Capstone Studios Corp copyright notice tied directly to Obsession. Neither of those details shows up by accident in an official trailer. The One Wish Willow being in Fortnite's hands confirms it enters the game as an item of some kind. The copyright credit confirms the legal partnership between Epic and Capstone Studios is already in place. What Obsession is and why fans wanted the collab. Obsession is a 2026 horror film directed by Curry Barker. The movie centers on the One Wish Willow - a supernatural item that grants wishes with dark consequences. The film performed well enough to build a fanbase that pushed hard for a Fortnite crossover throughout the Chapter 7 Season 4 Override season. Fan concepts for a Nikki skin - the main character - went viral earlier in 2026 and drew significant community attention. The concept included a One Wish Willow Back Bling that matched the movie's visual style. Epic noticed. The Fortnitemares 2026 trailer is the payoff. No full item list has been confirmed beyond the One Wish Willow. Based on the trailer flash and the copyright credit, the collab goes beyond a single cosmetic - the copyright language suggests gameplay integration rather than just a skin drop. A Nikki skin is the most requested item from the community. A One Wish Willow item for use in matches - possibly functioning as a limited-time gameplay mechanic similar to previous Halloween items - fits the movie's concept. No pricing or bundle structure has surfaced yet. Every other Fortnitemares 2026 collab confirmed. The Obsession collab is one piece of a much larger Fortnitemares 2026 lineup. Based on the trailer and confirmed leaks, October 1 also brings: * Five Nights at Freddy's * Nightmare on Elm Street * The Purge * Beetlejuice * Slender Man All of these land with v42.30 on October 1. Fortnitemares 2026 is shaping up as one of the biggest Halloween updates the game has run - multiple major horror IPs arriving in a single update rather than spread across separate drops. October 1, 2026 is the date. Update v42.30 carries everything - Obsession, Five Nights at Freddy's, Nightmare on Elm Street, The Purge, Beetlejuice, and Slender Man all arrive together. No staggered release schedule has been announced. The full Fortnitemares 2026 content drop happens in one update. Full pricing, item details, and gameplay mechanics for the One Wish Willow surface once v42.30 goes live. Check the Item Shop and any new game mechanics that appear in Battle Royale on October 1. Final thoughts. Fortnite Obsession collab is confirmed for October 1 via the Fortnitemares 2026 trailer. One Wish Willow appears in the footage. Capstone Studios copyright credit locks in the partnership. Nikki skin is the community's top request. Five other horror collabs land the same day. October 1 is going to be a big update. As a graduate of journalism and a passionate Web3 advocate, Michael Hajee has been writing about crypto, NFTs, and blockchain gaming for over four years. He specializes in creating insightful articles, content strategies, and community-driven content for the NFT and GameFi space. His commitment to clear, engaging writing helps readers stay informed about the fast-evolving world of Web3. Disclaimer Chainplay is a media platform covering the latest news in cryptocurrency and NFT gaming. The opinions and analyses published on Chainplay are provided for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial or investment advice. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research before making any decisions involving digital assets, tokens, or blockchain-based projects. All investments carry risk, and any losses incurred are solely the responsibility of the investor. Chainplay does not endorse or recommend the buying or selling of any digital assets and is not a licensed financial advisor. Please note that Chainplay may participate in affiliate marketing programs
Fortnite FNCS 2027 Trios format confirmed with three new championship cups. Key Takeaways * Fortnite FNCS 2027 brings back Trios format after over 1 million player votes at the Legends Landing island during FNCS Globals 2026. * Two Reload Championships and a new Arenas Fight Night cup join the 2027 competitive calendar. * The full FNCS 2027 roadmap and Majors schedule is not yet confirmed by Epic Games. Epic Games announced Fortnite FNCS 2027 at the FNCS Globals 2026 event in Antwerp, Belgium on September 27. Trios is back. Over 1 million players voted for the format to return through the Legends Landing UEFN island during the event. Two Reload Championships and a new Arenas Fight Night cup round out the 2027 competitive announcements. Fortnite FNCS 2027 returns to Trios format. FNCS 2026 ran in Duos format - a change from the 2025 Trios season where Swizzy, Merstach, and Queasy won the Global Championship together. For 2027, the community pushed back through the vote at FNCS Globals. Over 1 million votes landed in favor of Trios returning and Epic confirmed it on the spot. The Trios format shifts how competitive Fortnite is played at every level - from Majors qualification all the way to the Global Championship. Teams of three require different compositions and strategies than the Duos format that ran throughout 2026. Three new Championships in Fortnite FNCS 2027. Three new championship events join the 2027 competitive calendar alongside the standard Majors and Global Championship structure: * Reload Builds Championship - a competitive cup built around the Reload Builds mode * Zero Build Reload Championship - a dedicated cup for Zero Build Reload players * Arenas Fight Night - a new cup format built for boxfights fans looking for a competitive outlet The Reload Championships expand the competitive offering beyond standard Battle Royale. Zero Build Reload has built a strong community player base since its introduction - a dedicated championship gives those players a proper competitive goal to work toward. Arenas Fight Night is a new addition with no existing precedent in the FNCS structure. Boxfighting is one of the most popular skill-based formats in the Fortnite community - players practice it constantly but have had no official competitive tournament tied to it until now. The Arenas Fight Night cup gives that community a proper championship stage for the first time. No prize pool figures or qualifier format details have been released for any of the three new championship cups. Those details come in the full FNCS 2027 roadmap announcement from Epic, which has not dropped yet. When Fortnite FNCS 2027 starts. Epic has not confirmed the FNCS 2027 season start date or the Majors schedule. Fortnite Chapter 8 launches in December 2026 - the competitive season is likely to kick off alongside or shortly after the new chapter begins. Chapter launches historically reset the loot pool and map, giving pros time to adapt before Majors qualifying starts. The break between FNCS Globals 2026 ending on September 27 and the FNCS 2027 season starting gives competitive players time to form Trios rosters. Swizzy, who won FNCS 2026 Globals with Pixie in Duos, now faces the question of which two players to team up with for a potential third consecutive championship run. Team dynamics shift significantly when moving from Duos to Trios. Communication, rotation, and placement strategy all change with three players instead of two. Orgs that dominated in Duos may rebuild lineups entirely, while players who struggled in the Duos format because their strengths work better in three-person teams get a new shot at performing. Final thoughts. Fortnite FNCS 2027 runs in Trios. Over 1 million players voted it back in at FNCS Globals 2026. Two Reload Championships and the Arenas Fight Night cup expand the competitive calendar. Full schedule and Majors roadmap coming later. Chapter 8 in December sets the stage for when the season kicks off. As a graduate of journalism and a passionate Web3 advocate, Michael Hajee has been writing about crypto, NFTs, and blockchain gaming for over four years. He specializes in creating insightful articles, content strategies, and community-driven content for the NFT and GameFi space. His commitment to clear, engaging writing helps readers stay informed about the fast-evolving world of Web3. Disclaimer Chainplay is a media platform covering the latest news in cryptocurrency and NFT gaming. The opinions and analyses published on Chainplay are provided for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial or investment advice. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research before making any decisions involving digital assets, tokens, or blockchain-based projects. All investments carry risk, and any losses incurred are solely the responsibility of the investor. Chainplay does not endorse or recommend the buying or selling of any digital assets and is not a licensed financial advisor. Please note that Chainplay may participate in affiliate marketing programs
Epic Games faces class-action lawsuit for manipulating young Fortnite players into buying V-Bucks. The Netherlands organization is demanding millions in compensation over the use of dark patterns in the popular video game. Listen to summary Epic Games has built a massive gaming empire on the success of Fortnite, but also heavy legal scrutiny. The developer is facing yet another major legal battle after a consumer advocacy group accused the company of manipulating younger players into buying "V-Bucks," the game's virtual currency, through deceptive commercial practices. The Netherlands-based association Stichting Massaschade & Consument (SMC) has formally invited affected gamers to join a collective lawsuit against Tim Sweeney's studio. In an official statement, the group outlined its case against the hit Battle Royale title, leveling accusations strikingly similar to those that previously cost Epic Games hundreds of millions of dollars. Stichting Massaschade & Consument's name may already sound familiar to players as the consumer watchdog previously targeted PlayStation over alleged anti-consumer practices. Now, the organization has turned its sights on Epic Games, alleging that Fortnite actively misleads its younger audience through "dark patterns." According to the complaint, the studio deliberately designed the game to maximize sales of V-Bucks, the in-game currency used to buy cosmetics and character skins. SMC claims the title relies on psychological traps aimed at players under 21, leveraging relentless in-game advertising, countdown timers, and poor age-verification systems to manufacture artificial urgency and an intense fear of missing out (FOMO). The lawsuit further contends that these design mechanics expose impressionable gamers to risks associated with video game addiction and gambling behaviors. "You played Fortnite. And Fortnite played with you," the organization claimed. "Therefore, we demand a full refund of your Fortnite purchases along with financial compensation. A major video game publisher carries a heightened duty of care when young players are involved, but Epic Games did the exact opposite." In its filing, SMC demands that Epic Games immediately cease using dark patterns, strip out mechanics that foster addictive gameplay, and pay €100 million in restitution to be distributed among affected players. The organization is also seeking additional damages over allegations that Epic illegally harvested data from minors without parental consent. As the legal proceedings have just begun, no official verdict has been reached. In the meantime, impacted players in the Netherlands can register to join the class action via an online application form. In early 2023, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) penalized Epic Games after establishing that the studio used dark patterns and deceptive billing practices to trigger unauthorized microtransactions. That settlement required Epic to pay $245 million in direct consumer refunds, alongside an additional $275 million penalty for violating the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). "Epic put children and teens at risk through its lax privacy practices, and cost consumers millions in illegal charges through its use of dark patterns," said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection. This new lawsuit is very similar, so it is highly likely that Epic Games will have to pay up a substantial amount of money as a penalty. Comentarios. Inicia sesión desde el menú superior para dejar un comentario. Sé el primero en comentar.
Epic Games has been accused in the Netherlands of "forcing young gamers to spend money on Fortnite" and is being sued for €100 million. The Dutch consumer rights organization Stichting Massaschade & Consument (SMC) has filed a €100 million lawsuit against Epic Games. The organization accuses the developer of intentionally misleading young players by allegedly coercing them into spending real money in the game store. SMC is demanding a refund and compensation for the affected users. In addition to financial claims, the lawsuit also alleges collection of minors' personal data without parental consent. SMC has already served Epic Games with a formal notice of liability, offering to settle the dispute out of court. If negotiations fail, the case will go to court. In its lawsuit, SMC cites a study involving nearly a thousand Dutch teenagers aged 16 to 19. According to the survey, six out of ten buyers of the in-game currency V-Bucks admitted that spending the money didn't feel like spending real money, and half of those surveyed regretted the purchase, pressured by the limited-time offer. This is far from the first time Epic Games has faced accusations of manipulative monetization mechanics and violations of child privacy laws. In 2022, the company agreed to pay $520 million to settle two complaints from the US Federal Trade Commission. The regulator then accused Epic Games of violating the Children's Privacy Protection Act and using "dark patterns" that lured millions of players into unintentional purchases. In 2024, the Dutch regulator, the ACM (Authority for Consumers and Markets), fined Epic Games $1.2 million for unfair commercial practices targeting children. In January 2026, a Rotterdam court upheld the fine, effectively forming the basis for SMC's current lawsuit. SMC Chairperson Lucia Melcherts commented on the situation as follows: itoboz is not asking for Fortnite to be banned. But the Dutch regulator found that Epic Games violated the rules, and the court upheld it. The logical next step is for Epic Games to refund players. Epic Games deliberately designed the game to push players into purchasing. This is precisely what young consumers are supposed to be protected from. The company that created the game, not the players or their parents, should foot the bill. In response to the allegations, an Epic Games representative issued a statement, noting that Fortnite already includes built-in tools that allow parents to monitor their children's purchases and set limits on playtime. According to the company representative, the in-game item shop does not have a countdown timer, and parents can set a mandatory PIN to confirm real-money purchases. Additionally, the developer's representative clarified a number of details regarding the protection of minors in the Netherlands: * Players under 18 in the Netherlands cannot see or purchase items that have been available in the store for less than 48 hours; * When a user under 16 creates an account, a "Cabined Account" is automatically created, in which real-money purchases are blocked until consent is obtained from a parent or guardian; * The system for protecting against unwanted purchases includes two-step transaction confirmation, instant purchase cancellation, self-service refund processing for in-store purchases, and explicit user choice regarding the storage of payment information. An Epic Games representative added that these measures are aimed at providing families with sufficient control over in-game spending and preventing accidental spending by underage users.
Dutch consumer organization SMC accuses Fortnite store of inducing minors to spend, seeks €100 million. 3DM2026-09-2421:41:18 The Dutch consumer organization Stichting Massaschade & Consument (SMC) is seeking €100 million from Epic Games, alleging that the Fortnite item store induces minors to spend real money. SMC has issued a notice of liability to Epic and proposed a settlement; if negotiations fail, the organization will take the matter to court. SMC believes that Epic intentionally designed the store to exert purchase pressure on young players, demanding refunds and compensation for related transactions. The organization also accuses Epic of collecting children's personal data without parental consent. SMC cited a study in its filing involving 1,000 Dutch teenagers aged 16 to 19. The study found that 60% of respondents who had purchased in-game currencies like V-Bucks felt it didn't seem like spending real money, and half reported regretting purchases made under time pressure. Epic has previously faced regulatory action over children's privacy and in-game purchases. In 2022, Epic agreed to pay $520 million to settle two complaints from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission; the complaints involved violations of children's privacy laws and interface designs that led to unintended player purchases. In 2024, the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets fined Epic $1.2 million for unfair commercial practices targeting children. In January 2026, a court in Rotterdam upheld this fine. Lucia Melcherts, chair of SMC, stated that the organization is not seeking to ban Fortnite, but rather wants Epic to refund players. Epic responded that Fortnite provides parental control tools to manage children's purchasing behavior and playtime. Epic stated that the store has no countdown timers; parents can require a PIN code for real-money purchases, and players under 18 in the Netherlands cannot view or purchase items available in the store for less than 48 hours. Epic also stated that players under 16 in the Netherlands use restricted accounts when creating profiles, preventing real-money purchases without parental or guardian consent. The game also features a two-step confirmation before purchase, instant purchase cancellation, self-service returns for store items, and an option to choose whether to save payment information.