Disney invests $1.5B into Epic Games with plans to create a ‘huge Disney universe’ in Fortnite

Seeing Disney’s various IPs in Fortnite isn’t exactly news by this point, but it appears as if there will be a whole lot more of the House of Mouse’s characters within the games platform, and it’s all being powered by a $1.5 billion investment by Disney into Epic Games.

“We’ve entered into a strategic relationship with Epic Games, the maker of Fortnite, to not only invest in the company […] but we’re also creating a huge Disney universe,” says Disney CEO Bob Iger, who called the investment Disney’s “biggest foray into the game space ever.”

The multi-year Fortnite-based project offers vague promises to bring “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,” along with ways for players to create their own experiences in-game using the company’s characters to “express their fandom in a distinctly Disney way.”

The massive investment is part of Disney recognizing that its licensing deals for games are huge money drivers, while video gaming is a space where most people in Gen Z, Gen Alpha, and millenials spend their time according to Iger. “[T]he conclusion I reached was we have to be there and we have to be there as soon as we possibly can in a very compelling way,” he says. “[The investment deal] is the best of all worlds in many respects from a business venture perspective, and certainly great for consumers who love to interact with our characters already in video game format.”

Of course what this actually means for the game isn’t elaborated on, but it seems likely we’ll be seeing plenty of licensed characters entering the battle royale shooter proper, along with whatever individual experience Disney and Epic puts together. In any case, there’s no shortage of breathless promise of potential being expressed by executives, for whatever worth that holds for readers.

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