Fortnite fans around the world were stunned when news broke that Disney had invested $1.5 billion into Epic Games, with plans to create an “expansive universe” in the game. Many were confused though, so we’re here to answer the big question: Does Disney own Fortnite?
In a press release on February 7, 2024, Disney announced that they had purchased an equity stake in Epic Games, and would be collaborating on “all-new games and entertainment universe that will further expand the reach of beloved Disney stories and experiences.”
$1.5 billion is not a small amount of money and left many wondering if Disney now owned Fortnite instead of Epic Games. Here’s what we know.
Does Disney now own Fortnite?
The answer is yes, Disney does now own Fortnite… kind of. Because Disney purchased an equity stake in Epic Games, which created and operates Fortnite, they are now part owners of the game. We don’t expect that they’re going to have much to do with the development of the game, but they will now have a seat at the table when it comes to major decisions about the game moving forward.
Of course, the purchase means they also part-own other Epic Games properties like Rocket League and Unreal Engine, which is used to make video games.
What does this mean for Fortnite?
In terms of Fortnite’s development, we’re not sure this means a whole lot for the game. What we do expect, however, is that we’re about to see a lot of Disney crossovers in the game moving forward.
Of course, there’s also the plan to create “expansive and open games” in Fortnite, which we would expect could be included in the game like LEGO Fortnite and Rocket Racing. For now, though, we’ll just have to wait for more information.
What properties does Disney own that could appear in Fortnite?
Disney owns a plethora of companies and properties across media, many of which could appear in Fortnite for a crossover. These include:
- Marvel and the Marvel Cinematic Universe
- Star Wars
- Pixar, which includes franchises such as Toy Story, Cars, The Incredibles, and more.
- Disney Pictures, which includes franchises such as Cinderella, Aladdin, The Lion King, and more.
- The Muppets
- The Pirates of the Caribbean
- Indiana Jones
- Winnie the Pooh
Truthfully, to list every movie and show that Disney owns would take a team of people weeks to put together, but the above gives a good idea of what kind of properties Disney owns the rights too. That means there should be plenty of new content coming to the game for years to come.
