Here is Disney x Epic Games explained and what it means for Fortnite.
The Walt Disney Company has announced plans to collaborate with Epic Games on games and entertainment, further expanding the former's deep library of properties into Fortnite. This partnership includes a $1.5 billion investment from Disney to acquire an equity stake in Epic Games alongside a "multiyear project." This news is significant, especially as it relates to Fortnite, which has become one of the most popular video games in the world.
Explaining the $1.5 billion Disney x Epic Games deal
There's a lot to unpack with this monumental agreement, as Disney and Epic Games are certainly no strangers. The two have collaborated with Disney properties since 2018, first with the Fortnite x Avengers: Infinity War game mode. Since then, Fortnite and Disney have been frequent partners, with various Marvel and Star Wars crossovers, to name a few.
According to the press release, this Disney x Epic Games partnership centers around Fortnite. A snippet from the announcement mentions a "new persistent universe, offering a multitude of opportunities for consumers to play, watch, shop, and engage with content, characters, and stories from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, Avatar, and more."
Disney CEO Bob Iger commented on the relationship, stating that this is Disney's "biggest entry into the world of games."
“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..."
Tim Sweeney, the CEO and Founder of Epic Games, followed Iger's comment with his own, saying that Disney believed in the development team and, in particular, Unreal Engine, which Disney uses across their portfolio. Based on the words written, Disney and Epic Games hope to bring fans of Fortnite and Disney properties together in one ecosystem.
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What does this mean for Fortnite?
All in all, this $1.5 billion agreement figures to be the future of Fortnite. As referenced in the press release, the Fortnite Chapter 2 Season 4 Nexus War event, which happened four years ago, garnered over 15.3 million concurrent players. This budding relationship has covered six years, taking both companies to unforeseen heights. Over the past few years, Epic Games has featured Disney cosmetics, events, and more revolving around Star Wars, Marvel, Indiana Jones, and others.
In addition to expanding upon those properties, adding Pixar and Avatar will further bolster Fortnite's already massive player count. While the details are a bit murky, Epic Games and Tim Sweeney, in particular, have continuously stated their intentions to create a Fortnite metaverse.
You can expect a heavy Disney influence in Fortnite down the line, from cosmetics to game modes and everything in between. With Disney and Epic Games working together, fans can expect the gaming world to change significantly.
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