Disney’s ‘Epic’ universe: Company purchases $1.5 billion stake in Fortnite company
The Walt Disney Company has purchased a $1.5 billion stake in Epic Games, the video game company behind “Fortnite,” with plans for an interconnected game world featuring popular Disney franchises.
Disney x Epic Games
Disney announced the news this afternoon, shortly before the company’s quarterly earnings call. On the earnings call, Disney CEO Bob Iger called the purchase “a small equity stake” in Epic Games, but also noted the collaboration is “Disney’s biggest entry ever into the world of video games.”
As part of the team-up, the companies will create “a new expansive and open games and entertainment universe connected to Fortnite,” as a press statement phrased it. Iger said this new world “integrates Disney’s world-class storytelling into Fortnite, enabling consumers to play, watch, create, and shop for both digital and physical goods.”
This new video game world will include characters from Marvel, Star Wars, Avatar, Pixar, and more.
Hidden Details in Concept Art
Zooming in on concept art Disney revealed, we spot Stark Tower from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Pandora from “Avatar,” Flo’s V8 Café from “Cars,” Hoth from “Star Wars,” Space Mountain, Florida/California’s World of Disney store, a Disney Cruise Line port, Jumba’s spaceship from “Lilo & Stitch,” and the “Partners” statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse, among other familiar sightings throughout. What else can you spy?
“Where Magic Is Epic”
A video accompanying the announcement teased, “Discover a place where magic is epic. A new universe will emerge.”
Read Disney’s full announcement here.
