In a surprising turn of events, Disney and Epic Games (the mind behind Fortnite), announced a multi-year partnership. This collaboration aims to not only create brand-new games but also expand the existing entertainment universes of both companies. As part of the announcement, Disney is investing a whopping $1.5 billion into Epic Games, securing an equity stake in the process.
Disney’s core strength lies in TV/movies, primarily targeting families and adults. With this partnership, they tap into the massive and young audience of Fortnite, particularly Gen Z and younger millennials. This opens doors to new demographics and potential customers for Disney franchises and merchandise.
Epic Games is known for its cutting-edge game engine, Unreal Engine, which is used to develop many popular games. By partnering with Epic, Disney gains access to this technology and the expertise to develop new and innovative gaming experiences.
Disney Sets to Diversify its Portfolio
The Walt Disney Company has also shared a short video showcasing teases of games based on the major Disney franchises. During an interview with CNBC’s Julia Boorstin, Disney’s CEO Bob Iger described the investment as “probably our biggest foray into the game space ever.”
Disney and Epic Games, each titan in their own right, were confined to their niche corners. This partnership smashes those walls, allowing their passionate fanbases to mingle and explore entirely new horizons, sparking endless creative possibilities.
As a prominent games licensor, Disney boasts the best-selling superhero game of all time with Marvel’s Spider-Man in its portfolio. Additionally, Disney’s mobile games have collectively surpassed 1.5 billion installations globally. The envisioned collaboration aims to create a vast Disney World adjacent to Fortnite, seamlessly connecting the two.
Stepping beyond its battle royale roots, Fortnite is also branching out and building new worlds to explore. Its recent collaboration with LEGO brought players a survival crafting experience reminiscent of Minecraft, offering a creative twist on the platform’s usual gameplay. Additionally, it partnered with Harmonix, the creators of Rock Band, to launch “Fortnite Festival,” a music game within Fortnite, tapping into the growing popularity of music-based titles.
This is not the first time that Disney and Epic Games have teamed up. Disney’s impact has been integrated into the Fortnite gameplay over multiple seasons, notably with a Marvel-inspired battle royale event in 2020. Moreover, Disney has extensively utilized the Unreal Engine in the development of games like Kingdom Hearts 3 and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, as well as in the creation of 15 attractions across Disney theme Parks.
Overall, Disney’s investment in Epic Games represents a strategic move to diversify its entertainment portfolio and tap into the dynamic and expansive gaming industry.
