Disney and Epic Games Announce Collaboration to Forge Expansive Gaming Universe
The Walt Disney Company and Epic Games have unveiled plans for a groundbreaking collaboration. The venture aims to create a sprawling games and entertainment universe that seamlessly intertwines iconic Disney narratives with the vibrant world of Fortnite. As part of the ambitious undertaking, Disney will invest a substantial $1.5 billion to secure an equity stake in Epic Games.
The announcement heralds the birth of a new gaming realm to extend the enchantment of beloved Disney tales and experiences to an even broader audience. Through this partnership, players will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in a rich tapestry of content spanning Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, Avatar, and more.
Leveraging the power of Unreal Engine, the venture will enable gamers to craft their own narratives, express their fandom, and share experiences in a distinctly Disney fashion.
Robert A. Iger, Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company, expressed excitement about the collaboration, hailing it as Disney’s most significant foray yet into the gaming domain. He emphasized the transformative potential of the venture, poised to unlock fresh avenues for growth and innovation.
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.”
Robert A. Iger
Echoing Iger’s sentiments, Tim Sweeney, CEO and Founder of Epic Games, highlighted the pioneering spirit driving the collaboration. He underscored the shared vision of creating a dynamic, interconnected ecosystem that seamlessly merges the Disney and Fortnite communities.
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.”
Tim Sweeney
Josh D’Amaro, Chairman of Disney Experiences, lauded the partnership as a milestone that would enable Disney to harness its vast repository of stories and experiences like never before. He emphasized the role of Epic Games’ cutting-edge technology and Fortnite’s open platform in reaching and engaging audiences in meaningful ways.
The collaboration between Disney and Epic Games marks a deepening of their existing relationship, which has already captivated millions of players through various Fortnite content integrations and live events.
From the Marvel Nexus War with Galactus to immersive experiences like Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the collaboration has consistently pushed the boundaries of interactive entertainment.
Furthermore, the partnership builds upon Epic Games’ participation in the 2017 Disney Accelerator program, reflecting a shared commitment to driving innovation at the intersection of technology and entertainment.
While much has not been revealed about the release/launch date of this venture, the hype trailer announcing this collaboration does mention a vague “soon(ish)” term, implying that the fans and players will be able to experience this soon(ish)?
Nevertheless, undoubtedly millions of fans are looking forward to this, as Disney boasts many iconic fictional characters, many of which have already been featured in Fortnite, so it will be exciting to see what more Disney and Epic Games have in store for the fans.
That’s all the information we have for now about this collaboration. However, worry not, we will keep you posted upon receiving any further updates about this. Until then, let us know your thoughts about this news in the comments section below.
