Disney invests $1.5 billion in Epic Games

The American transnational media corporation Disney announced today that it is investing $1.5 billion in “acquiring a stake” in the publisher of Fortnite, Epic Games, with the goal of creating a similar Fortnite universe for its own intellectual properties.

Disney stated that its “new universe” will provide consumers with the opportunity to “play, watch, make purchases, and interact with content, characters, and stories from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, Avatar, and many others.

Disney’s Big Investment

Disney was one of the first companies to believe in the potential of combining their worlds with our product, Fortnite, and they utilize the Unreal Engine in their arsenal,” said Tim Sweeney, CEO and founder of Epic Games. “Now we are collaborating on something entirely new to create an open and compatible ecosystem that will bring together the Disney and Fortnite communities.”

All of this will be built upon the Unreal Engine, the same engine that Epic uses in Fortnite, which has previously collaborated with Disney to include crossovers in the game, such as characters from Star Wars, Marvel, and many other Disney intellectual properties.

This will allow us to harness our incredible expertise from various areas of the company for a wide audience, resulting in an end product that we could only dream of before,” said Josh D’Amaro, Chairman of Disney Experiences. “The leading technologies of Epic Games and the open ecosystem of Fortnite will help us reach users where they are in their favorite environment, so they can interact with Disney in the most convenient way for them.”

Disney cited its successes in the video game industry, such as Marvel’s Spider-Man on PlayStation, which became the best-selling superhero game of all time, and reaching 1.5 billion game installations of Disney titles on mobile devices, which includes over $1 billion in sales.

This is not the first case from world-famous investors

Big companies have been investing in esports and the gaming industry at different times and for various reasons, and it’s been a game-changer. Just take a look at the sponsorships from companies that have thrown their support behind esports teams. Companies like Intel, Red Bull, Monster Energy, Coca-Cola, and others have jumped on board as sponsors for esports tournaments and teams, and their involvement has truly propelled the growth of esports while raising its profile.

But it doesn’t stop there. Some companies have taken a different approach by acquiring game development studios or publishers, expanding their reach and influence in the gaming industry. Microsoft, for example, made waves when they acquired Mojang, the brilliant minds behind Minecraft, as well as Bethesda Softworks, a renowned publisher. And let’s not forget Amazon, who not only acquired Double Helix Games but also established their very own game studio, making their mark in the gaming world.

On top of that, several major companies have gone on to create their own gaming platforms and services, aiming to compete with the established players. Google made a splash with the launch of their gaming platform, Stadia, while Apple developed the impressive Apple Arcade service, catering to gamers’ diverse preferences.

Not to mention, the involvement of globally recognized companies in organizing esports tournaments and leagues has been monumental. Valve Corporation, for instance, hosts the highly anticipated annual tournament, The International, which boasts one of the biggest prize pools in esports history. And let’s not forget the invaluable contribution of major sponsors like Intel, NVIDIA, and more, who consistently lend their support to esports events. It’s no wonder the gaming community is buzzing with excitement over the recent entry of a colossal player like Disney. It’s a positive signal that resonates deeply within the gaming community, igniting even greater possibilities for the future!