Fast and loose, employees are king - Senior Programmer Epic Games Employee Review

5.0
Oct 16, 2013
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

There are very few obstacles to getting work done at Epic. Anyone can put in the effort and kick ass at their job. The company is run very smartly, and puts a lot of thought into staying lean and effective in the industry. We have amazing benefits and amenities too, enough to make you wonder how other companies can be so boneheaded. This ranges from great health plan and 401k, to free lunches and stocked kitchen, to simple things like not having to fight for basics like a swingline stapler, a decent mouse, or a $50 piece of software that helps you do your job. Cary, NC is, surprisingly, a great place to live. It looks like Hicksville, BFE on the map, but it's actually a technology mecca full of yankees, close to the beach, the mountains, and everything else the east coast has to offer.

Cons

If you need a lot of structure to get work done, Epic may not be the place for you. We're trying variations on Agile, or at least going through the motions, but it's very fast and loose. Ultimately people just do whatever needs to be done. The downside to being pampered by Epic and working with the industry's best is that some days that means working with spoiled egotistical brats. Very few of Epic's employees realize how good they have it here.

Explore other reviews about Epic Games

5.0
Jun 23, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Amazing company.Great work life balance, great people

Cons

Still acts like a start up, a lot of ambiguity

1.0
Jul 3, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Cool products Great designers and engineers WFH flexibility They have 2 weeks off in the summer and winter (for 95% of employees)

Cons

They mostly hire people who don't play games now Those are the people who make final decisions on gameplay changes and are given more authority than actual designers They see players as something to exploit for money and seek monetization first with everything they do Executives and directors only surround themselves with yes-men these days, along with self serving AI bots Folks at the bottom can not be heard by those at the top, the structure has become very rigid and info doesnt trickle up anymore The call from the top has been to keep making more Fortnite for so long, even after layoffs they just double down on the bets that led to the layoff in the first place. They are allergic to promoting up too high and would rather bring in external folks for any senior leadership role They hire like crazy every time they get some money There is generally never consequence for failed bets, and so you see people failing again and again at the top for years and they're never held accountable In general they are allergic to setting success targets (at least that are shared to lower class). They do "if it works, great", "if it doesnt everything is on fire and we need to pivot everything." They intentionally avoid original work and exclusively copy other games and creators because its safer, even though those copy bets fail usually anyway. The top leaders, including Tim, have become unapproachable by anyone who isn't in their ear already. From the outside it looks like the king of Rohan and Wormtongue. Its a bunch of grifters guiding and lying to very powerful men.

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