Disney Invests $1.5 Billion in Epic Games to Create an Expansive Universe Within Fortnite
The Walt Disney Company is investing $1.5 billion stake in Epic Games and teaming up to create expansive, open games and an entertainment universe connected to Fortnite over the next few years.
They mentioned that apart from being an exceptional gaming experience and seamlessly integrating with Fortnite, the forthcoming persistent universe will provide numerous opportunities for consumers to play, watch, shop, and engage with content, characters, and narratives from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, Avatar, and beyond. Players and gamers will have the freedom to create their own stories and adventures, express their passion in a unique Disney fashion, and exchange content with fellow fans in ways they adore. All of this will be made possible through the utilization of the Unreal Engine.
Robert A. Iger, Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company, expressed, "Our exciting new relationship with Epic Games will bring together Disney’s beloved brands and franchises with the hugely popular Fortnite in a transformational new games and entertainment universe. This marks Disney’s biggest entry ever into the world of games and offers significant opportunities for growth and expansion. We can’t wait for fans to experience the Disney stories and worlds they love in groundbreaking new ways."
Tim Sweeney, CEO and Founder of Epic Games, highlighted, "Disney was one of the first companies to believe in the potential of bringing their worlds together with ours in Fortnite, and they use Unreal Engine across their portfolio. Now we’re collaborating on something entirely new to build a persistent, open and interoperable ecosystem that will bring together the Disney and Fortnite communities."
Josh D’Amaro, Chairman of Disney Experiences, added, "This will enable us to bring together our incredible collection of stories and experiences from across the company for a broad audience in ways we have only dreamed of before. Epic Games’ industry-leading technology and Fortnite’s open ecosystem will help us reach consumers where they are so they can engage with Disney in the ways that are most relevant to them."
The partnership between Epic Games and Disney has deepened over time, engaging hundreds of millions of players through various initiatives within Fortnite. These include content integrations, season collaborations, in-game activations, and live events. Notably, the Marvel Nexus War featuring Galactus attracted over 15.3 million concurrent players, highlighting the significant impact of their collaborations.
Additionally, Unreal Engine plays a pivotal role across Disney's diverse portfolio. It is utilized in the development of video games such as Kingdom Hearts 3 and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, as well as in cinematic editing and animation for film and streaming. Moreover, Unreal Engine contributes to the creation of more than 15 Disney Parks attractions, including Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
This collaboration further solidifies Epic Games' involvement in the 2017 Disney Accelerator program, reflecting a shared commitment to shaping the future of technology and entertainment.
As we eagerly anticipate the collaboration between Disney and Epic Games, the timing remains uncertain, with no further details provided. However, speculation suggests that it could debut in the upcoming Chapter 5 Season 2 on March 8, 2024. This new experience is expected to follow a format similar to LEGO Fortnite, Rocket Racing, and Fortnite Festival—separate games nested within Fortnite, accessible directly from the main game.