The Walt Disney Company has announced its collaboration with Epic Games on all new games and entertainment universe. With this announcement, Disney acquires $1.5 Billion stakes in Epic Games.
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has confirmed he “will continue to maintain control of the board following the close of this transaction” to GamesIndustry.biz.
This is going to be… Epic! ✨ The Walt Disney Company and Epic Games are collaborating on an all-new games and entertainment universe featuring characters and stories from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, Avatar, and more.
Learn more: https://t.co/vrMJft64o9 pic.twitter.com/HTs8asNBSm
— Disney (@Disney) February 7, 2024
Robert A. Iger, Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company, has remarked this as “Disney’s biggest entry ever into the world of games.”
The announcement came via a blog post, which explicitly focuses on bringing exclusive Fortnite content.
“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,” says Robert.
Disney states this as a ‘multiyear project’ and is willing to engage Epic Games with content, characters, and stories from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, Avatar, and more.
History creating Future
To be clear, it’s not a direct investment from the Disney side. They have already collaborated with Fortnite which garnered 15 million concurrent players.
Disney’s license to various games like Marvel’s Spider-Man franchise has proved to be a huge commercial success. In addition, Disney’s mobile games have 1.5 billion global installs.
It looks like there is a lot of content available and Disney is trying to change itself from mere game Licensor to Game Producer.
This is a very strategic move from Disney, given that their franchises will reach millions of readily available gamers through Epic.