Epic and Disney unveil new Fortnite universe at Unreal Fest 2024
- Disney and Epic Games announced a partnership in February 2024 to create a 'persistent universe' within Fortnite.
- The collaboration will allow players to interact with characters from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars while ensuring brand integrity.
- This partnership represents a strategic shift for Disney, following its investment of $1.5 billion in Epic after closing its metaverse division.
In February 2024, Disney and Epic Games announced a collaboration to create a 'persistent universe' that will integrate characters from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars into Fortnite. This partnership aims to allow players to seamlessly transition between experiences in both the Disney universe and Fortnite, utilizing a shared backend for cosmetic items and social interactions. Epic's executives highlighted the importance of maintaining brand integrity, ensuring that characters are portrayed in ways that align with their respective franchises. Disney's investment of $1.5 billion into Epic Games reflects a strategic move following the closure of its own metaverse division, indicating a shift in focus towards leveraging existing platforms rather than creating new competitors. The collaboration is expected to enhance player engagement by providing access to beloved characters while adhering to brand guidelines, which may limit certain portrayals, such as characters wielding weapons. This partnership is seen as a significant opportunity for both companies to cater to Disney fans and gamers alike, creating a unique blend of entertainment and gaming experiences.