The Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger announced the company is investing $1.5 billion for an equity stake into Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite.
Along with this $1.5 billion investment for an equity stake, the two companies signed a multiyear deal to “collaborate on an all-new games and entertainment universe that will further expand the reach of beloved Disney stories and experiences.”
Disney Entertainment Universe
The two companies released a trailer teasing this new entertainment universe that features a number of Disney IPs including Frozen, Star Wars, Avatar, Fortnite, Marvel, Pixar, Indiana Jones, and more.
In a press release, Iger said, “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.”
He added, “This marks Disney’s biggest entry ever into the world of games and offers significant opportunities for growth and expansion. We can’t wait for fans to experience the Disney stories and worlds they love in groundbreaking new ways.
Bob Iger via New York Times Events YouTube
EPIC Games founder and CEO Tim Sweeney also stated, “Disney was one of the first companies to believe in the potential of bringing their worlds together with ours in Fortnite, and they use Unreal Engine across their portfolio.”
Sweeney added, “Now we’re collaborating on something entirely new to build a persistent, open and interoperable ecosystem that will bring together the Disney and Fortnite communities.”
Darth Vader in the Disney x Epic Games trailer
One of the main aims of the investment is to get consumers to “play, watch, shop and engage with content, characters and stories from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, Avatar and more.
The press released detailed, “Players, gamers and fans will be able to create their own stories and experiences, express their fandom in a distinctly Disney way, and share content with each other in ways that they love. This will all be powered by Unreal Engine.”
Deadpool in the Disney x Epic Games trailer
Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro also explained the significance of the deal, “This will enable us to bring together our incredible collection of stories and experiences from across the company for a broad audience in ways we have only dreamed of before.”
He added, “Epic Games’ industry-leading technology and Fortnite’s open ecosystem will help us reach consumers where they are so they can engage with Disney in the ways that are most relevant to them.”
A screenshot of Avatar in the Disney x Epic Games trailer
What do you make of this announcement?
