Disney to invest $1.5 billion in Epic Games, forming a partnership to create a shared universe linked to Fortnite.

Disney to invest

Under 100 Words: A Compact Summary

Disney to invest $1.5 billion in Epic Games, integrating Disney into Fortnite. Marks Disney’s major gaming entry. Collaboration spans new titles, theme parks, and internal development by Epic over several years. Previous successful collaboration with Lego Group resulted in Lego Fortnite, attracting millions of players.

Disney to invest $1.5 billion in Epic Games, forming a partnership that includes Disney properties in Fortnite. Fans can engage with Disney characters through watching, shopping, and playing within the game.
The collaboration extends to new titles and a connection with Disney’s theme parks. Disney CEO Bob Iger emphasized that this move represents Disney’s largest foray into the gaming world, presenting substantial opportunities for growth and expansion.

Disney’s history with video games has been tumultuous. In 2016, the company faced challenges in creating successful in-house titles, leading to the closure of a significant portion of its game operations. Currently, Disney adopts a licensing approach, partnering with external developers such as Electronic Arts and Sony Group.
Over the years, Disney and Epic have maintained a collaborative relationship, with involvement in Disney’s Accelerator program, where company executives mentor smaller businesses.

Disney to invest

Epic has integrated popular Disney characters from franchises like Star Wars, Marvel, and Indiana Jones into Fortnite avatars. Additionally, Disney games have utilized Epic’s Unreal Engine software for development.

“Disney was one of the first companies to believe in the potential of bringing their worlds together with ours in Fortnite,” Epic’s CEO, Tim Sweeney, stated.
The upcoming project is set to unfold over multiple years, with Epic taking charge of internal development for the experiences (Disney to invest).
This agreement adds to Epic’s partnerships with major consumer products companies (Disney to invest). In 2022, Kirkbi, the family-holding company overseeing the Lego Group, invested $1 billion in Epic to develop online experiences.

The result was Lego Fortnite, launched in the previous year, which showcased characters in a distinctive blocky Lego style and garnered up to 2 million players soon after its release.