Disney and Epic Games are teaming up as the house of mouse is buying $1.5 billion — with a B — worth of equity in the Fortnite creator. Alongside the investment, both Disney and Epic Games have announced the two companies are going to “collaborate on an all-new games and entertainment universe that will further expand the reach of beloved Disney stories and experiences.”
The news was announced as part of Disney’s 2024 Q1 earnings report on Wednesday.
“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,” said Robert A. Iger, Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company, via press release. “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.”
Epic Games CEO and Founder Tim Sweeney added: “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.”
The partnership, Disney says, will see not only “world-class games” with Fortnite, but offer ways for players to “play, watch, shop and engage with content, characters and stories from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, Avatar and more.”
No other details about the upcoming project(s) were announced, nor was there any indication of when it would arrive. Disney says this venture, however, will be a multiyear project.
Recently, Epic Games launched LEGO Fortnite, Fortnite Festival, and Rocket Racing within Fortnite, all of which received praise from players upon release.
What do you think of Disney buying a $1.5 billion stake in Epic Games along with the creation of a new universe within Fortnite? For more Insider Gaming, read about the US FTC issuing a warning to the US Court of Appeals about Microsoft’s recent decision to layoff 1,900 employees at Activision Blizzard.
