Disney take $1.5B stake in Epic Games; partnership agreed to create games within Fortnite

Video Games Chronicle wrote:The Walt Disney Company is making a $1.5 billion investment to acquire an equity stake in Epic Games.

It said on Wednesday that the two companies are also partnering to create an “all-new games and entertainment universe” connected to Fortnite.

“In addition to being a world-class games experience and interoperating with Fortnite, the new persistent universe will offer 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 said.

Powered by Epic’s Unreal Engine, users will be able to create their own stories and experiences and share content with each other.

Disney CEO Bob Iger wrote:“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. We can’t wait for fans to experience the Disney stories and worlds they love in groundbreaking new ways.”

Source: Video Games Chronicle

This appears to be a significant investment by Disney in promoting their IP through the Fortnite game platform. Equally, it's a sign that Epic are seeking to make Fortnite a key hub for all kinds of games and entertainment as well as the core game that has been so popular.

Last edited by Sprouty on Wed Feb 07, 2024 10:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.

A quick Google suggests that the net worth of Epic Games is $32 Billion. So this is a big investment, but if anyone is wondering whether it's close to a fill buyout... no! Significant amount of money, mind!

Edit: Billion, not Million!

To Fortnite and beyond.

Sprouty wrote:A quick Google suggests that the net worth of Epic Games is $32 million. So this is a big investment, but if anyone is wondering whether it's close to a fill buyout... no! Significant amount of money, mind!

Oh, yeah, with Epic's value circa $32B, it's by no means any kind of takeover! Although, yes, it's quite an investment and a signal that Disney are seeking to really get back into gaming. I wonder if this has any impact upon their project with Gameloft? Disney Dreamlight Valley seems to be pretty popular although Disney Speedstorm appears to have been less so.

Meanwhile, Fortnite's X/Twitter channel has shared the news:

twitter.com/FortniteGame/status/1755340465879101886

I'm sure all the employees that Epic have laid off will be very happy for them.

Good, keep the two things wrapped up together so I can ignore them both at the same time.

I wonder if the Fortnite bubble will ever pop?

I don't mind the game, but for the life of me, I'll never understand why people pay thousands of pounds to own hundreds of skins. It's a fairly decent online shooter.

The trailer seems to be Disney themed areas, with no doubt a reliance on selling Disney skins. It looks a bit...meh?

Nothing gets me harder than big corporations coming together to promote a shared universe for legacy IP :datass:

Cheeky Devlin wrote:I'm sure all the employees that Epic have laid off will be very happy for them.

Somehow shareholder value returned :wub:

So is the feeling they'll be looking to make live-service fortnight type games within a Disney/ Marvel shared universe.

Not interested in that. But very interested if they're looking to invest in single player adventure series with those IPs. Would love more games like the amazing Illusion Island (from a different studio) we got last year.

They really, really wanted to call it a metaverse but that term seems to be very uncool now.

Cheeky Devlin wrote:I'm sure all the employees that Epic have laid off will be very happy for them.

rinks wrote:Good, keep the two things wrapped up together so I can ignore them both at the same time.

Sums up my feelings nicely

Disney take $1.5B stake in Epic Games; partnership agreed to create games within Fortnite

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