I’ve received comments, both publicly and privately, saying that focusing support on laid off Epic Games employees is disrespectful to others in the industry.
I want to share some context.
In 2023, I was laid off from Epic Games. I remember staring at job postings reading, “How do you compare to 2,000 other applicants?” It felt overwhelming and honestly pretty hopeless. Then I started thinking about my friends and colleagues who were going through the exact same thing.
So I did something about it.
I began reaching out directly to recruiters and talent teams. I started conversations. I asked if they would be open to connecting with people impacted by layoffs at Epic. Over time, those conversations turned into real relationships across companies like Amazon Games, Xbox, Netflix Games, Sledgehammer, Blizzard, Activision, and more.
We hosted calls. People connected. People got hired.
I did not land a role through those efforts myself, but that was never the point. Watching my friends remove their open to work banners was enough.
Now in 2026, my husband, after 7 years at Epic Games, was laid off. Completely blindsided. In that moment I hugged him tightly and reminded him that his worth is not tied to a job title or company....And I knew exactly what I needed to do again. This is my virtual hug to my former colleagues and friends.
This work is how I show up for people I care about. It is networking. It is community. I do not get paid for it. I do not charge companies or candidates. I do it in the limited time I have because I have lived this and I know how much it matters.
If you believe more support should exist for others in the industry, I agree. But that also means taking action on your end. Nothing about what I am doing is exclusive or restricted. Anyone can reach out to recruiters, build relationships, and create opportunities for the communities they care about.
So instead of criticizing what this is not, I would challenge more people to build what they wish existed.
I am not magic. I don't cast spells with my keyboard. I am just putting in the effort. There is room for all of us to do the same.
#gamedev #gamingindustry #careers #networking #community #layoffs #recruiting #hiring #gamesindustry