The Walt Disney Company will buy shares of the Epic Games studio for $1.5 billion. According to a joint press release, they plan to create a new gaming and entertainment universe related to Fortnite .
In the new universe, users will be able to play, watch, buy and interact with content, characters and stories from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, Avatar and more. The project will work on the Unreal Engine game engine.
Exactly how the integration with Fortnite will work is unclear, but Disney says that “players, gamers and fans will be able to create their own stories and adventures, express their love for their favorite Disney creations in a unique way and share it with each other.”
There is no release date for the joint project of Disney and Epic Games yet.
Disney CEO Robert Iger said the collaboration marks the company's largest investment in the gaming industry and will offer significant opportunities for growth and expansion.
This is far from the first partnership between Disney and Fortnite. Fortnite has previously featured characters from Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars.