Disney has big plans to step into the gaming world, and they’re teaming up with the creators of Fortnite, Epic Games, to make it happen. In a whopping deal, Disney is investing a massive $1.5 billion in Epic Games to become a part owner of the gaming company.
Disney CEO Bob Iger shared the exciting news, stating, “Our new partnership with Epic Games will bring together Disney’s beloved characters with the incredibly popular Fortnite, creating a whole new gaming and entertainment universe. This marks Disney’s biggest venture into the gaming world, opening up significant opportunities for growth.”
The main goal of this collaboration is not just to create new games but to build a fully immersive gaming universe filled with Disney magic. In this virtual space, players can not only play games but also shop, watch, and engage with a variety of Disney content. This extensive content includes iconic franchises like Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar, Avatar, and much more.
The vision is to make the Disney brand a prominent presence in the gaming world, especially among the younger generation who spend a significant amount of time on gaming consoles or PCs. They describe this new gaming space as a “persistent universe,” essentially serving as a central hub for both Fortnite players and fans of Disney-branded games.
This collaboration isn’t the first time Disney and Epic Games have joined forces. In the past, Disney licensed characters from Marvel and Star Wars to be featured in Fortnite. This means players could don Iron Man, Black Widow, Kylo Ren, and other iconic characters within the Fortnite universe.
Epic Games has a history of taking on industry giants. They’ve previously gone head-to-head with tech giants Google and Apple, challenging their app store fees. Impressively, they came out victorious against Google. This collaboration with Disney shows Epic Games’ willingness to engage in fair competition and play in the same sandbox as long as the rules are just.
In summary, Disney is making a bold move into the gaming world, teaming up with Epic Games to create a captivating gaming universe. With a substantial investment and plans for a persistent universe, Disney aims to bring its beloved characters to the forefront of the gaming experience, offering fans an immersive and entertaining space to play, shop, and engage with their favorite franchises. This collaboration signifies a major step for both companies and holds the promise of an exciting new era in the world of gaming and entertainment.
