The Walt Disney Company Announces $1.5 Billion Investment in Epic Games
The Walt Disney Company has announced that it will be teaming up with Epic Games to develop a new world of games and entertainment that will further expand the influence of Disney’s intellectual property. As part of this long-term project, Disney will be investing $1.5 billion to acquire equity in Epic Games.
This partnership comes as a surprise to many, as Disney had previously abolished its internal “next-generation storytelling and consumer experiences” unit, which was responsible for leading Disney’s metaverse planning. Many saw this move as Disney’s official abandonment of the metaverse plan, but it appears that Disney has other ideas in mind.
The new universe being created in partnership with Epic Games will not only provide a gaming experience and link with “Fortress Heroes,” but also plans to build a massive world where players can play, watch, shop, and participate in Disney, Pixar, and comic book content, characters, and stories, as well as Star Wars, Avatar, and more. This new world will be powered by Unreal Engine, allowing players and fans to create their own stories and experiences.
Robert A. Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, stated, “Our exciting new relationship with Epic Games will bring together Disney’s beloved brands and franchises with the hugely popular Fortress Heroes, creating a transformative new world of games and entertainment. This marks Disney’s largest ever entry into the world of games and presents significant opportunities for growth and expansion. We can’t wait for fans to experience their favorite Disney stories and world in groundbreaking new ways.”
Tim Sweeney, CEO and founder of Epic Games, also expressed his excitement about the partnership, saying, “Disney was one of the first companies to believe in bringing its world together with Fortress Heroes. Now we are working together to build a lasting, open and interoperable ecosystem system to bring the Disney and Fortress Heroes communities together.”
This collaboration between Disney and Epic Games is not the first of its kind. The two companies have previously worked together on “Fortress Heroes” content integration, seasonal cooperation, and live events, including the 2020 Marvel “Nexus War” season update, which attracted more than 1.5 million players online at the same time.
Furthermore, Disney has been incorporating Epic Games into its incubation system since 2017, using Unreal Engine to produce digital media for the Disney industry, including the development of games such as “Kingdom Hearts 3” and “Star Wars Jedi: Survivors,” as well as video content for amusement equipment in Disney parks. With this in-depth cooperation, it is clear that Disney’s media empire is set to expand once again.