Epic Games and Disney have just announced a groundbreaking partnership that is set to bring characters from Disney’s extensive catalog to life through a tie-in with the popular game Fortnite. This collaboration marks Disney’s biggest entry into the world of gaming and offers significant opportunities for growth and expansion.
The scope of this project is truly massive. In a joint press release, Epic Games and Disney described it as “an all-new games and entertainment universe” that will allow players to “play, watch, shop, and engage with” characters and storylines from Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, and more. This ambitious endeavor will utilize Epic’s powerful Unreal Engine and will be interoperable with Fortnite, seamlessly integrating into the existing online social gaming infrastructure.
Disney’s decision to partner with Epic Games may come as a surprise to some, but it aligns perfectly with Epic’s current roadmap. Over the years, Fortnite has evolved from a popular battle royale game into a platform for user-generated game modes and brand collaborations. Disney was one of the first companies to recognize the potential of merging their worlds with Fortnite’s, and they have been using Unreal Engine across their portfolio. Now, they are taking their collaboration to a whole new level by building a persistent, open, and interoperable ecosystem that will bring together the Disney and Fortnite communities.
This partnership is not only about gaming but also about creating immersive social worlds where people can build and play together. Epic’s commitment to expanding Fortnite beyond its roots as a multiplayer shooter was evident in their recent additions of Lego Fortnite, Rocket Racing, and Fortnite Festival – three stand-alone games in completely different genres. With Disney’s deep partnership and substantial investment, Epic will have access to a refined toolkit for creating online social worlds on an unprecedented scale.
Furthermore, Epic’s Fortnite store, which allows players to purchase in-game outfits, dance moves, and emotes, provides valuable infrastructure for what could potentially become a limitless digital shopping mall filled with goods inspired by Disney’s beloved characters. The collaboration between Disney and Epic has already resulted in popular brand collaborations within Fortnite, with collectible skins of characters from Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe available in the game. Additionally, the companies co-produced a live in-game event called Fortnite Nexus War in 2020, further showcasing their successful partnership.
While an exact release date for the fruits of this collaboration has not been announced, the mention of “soon(ish)” suggests that players won’t have to wait for years to experience this ambitious project. Fans of both Disney and Fortnite can look forward to a new era of interactive entertainment that seamlessly blends the magic of Disney’s characters and storylines with the immersive world of Fortnite. It’s an exciting time for gamers and Disney enthusiasts alike, as this collaboration promises to redefine the boundaries of gaming and entertainment.
