Imagine a place where you can play, create, interact and even shop, all wrapped up in the magic of Disney! The mouse-eared company announced a massive $1.5 billion investment inEpic Games, the publisher of Fortnite, to create a first-of-its-kind partnership with the Battle Royal, at its first fiscal quarter financial results presentation on February 7, 2024.
A collaboration between these two entertainment giants that promises to bring the enchanting worlds of Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, Avatar and many others under the same virtual sky, in an open, persistent and deeply social game space. A completely new experience, rooted in Unreal Engine, allowing players to weave their own stories and adventures.
And the outlines of the first content are beginning to take shape... On the occasion of D23, Disney announced, live on Fortnite, the arrival of several skins from the Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars universes. Starting with the new season of Battle Royal, many Marvel heroes will be appearing in the game. In the week of August 12, the droid IG-11 and Moff Gideon (from The Mandalorian series) will also appear in Battle Royale as skins. And this autumn, it's the turn of the Disney villains to land, including Captain Hook, Maleficent and Cruella d'Enfer, as well as the Pixar heroes from The Indestructibles, namely Frozone, Mr. Indestructible and Elastigirl.
Regarding the collaboration between Disney and Epic Games, Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, and Tim Sweeney, founder and CEO ofEpic Games, both expressed their enthusiasm for this transformative project, envisioning a significant expansion in gaming and entertainment. This"Disney World" version of Fortnite not only offers a new gaming platform, but aspires to be a hub where fans can express their passion for Disney universes in unique ways and share content in innovative ways (reminding us strangely of a certain Ralph 2.0... those who have seen the film will understand).
The precise details of the project remain veiled in mystery, but the ambition is clear: to offer a platform where the boundaries between playing, watching, and interacting become blurred. The past collaboration between Disney and Epic Games in Fortnite, notably through live events and the introduction of skins from Marvel, Lucasfilms (hello Indiana Jones...) and Star Wars, was just a foretaste of what promises to be a revolution in the video game industry. Gamers can look forward to unprecedented immersion in the worlds they love, with the freedom to create and share their own experiences.
This partnership is a strong statement from Disney, affirming its desire to establish a lasting foothold in the video game space. The $1.5 billion investment demonstrates the breadth of the entertainment company's commitment to this new adventure, with the promise of bringing together its iconic storytelling universes in an open, interactive ecosystem. Expectations are high, and eyes are on the future, eager to discover how Disney and Epic Games will redefine the video game experience.
