Disney has responded after rumors steered it was in shopping for Fortnite developer Epic Games.
Disney president and chief artistic officer Dana Walden touched on the corporate’s relationship with Epic throughout an interview with Bloomberg Live. When requested if there have been talks about increasing their beforehand established relationship with a full-on acquisition, she stated that technique is not one thing Disney is entertaining, no less than proper now.
“Properly, I believe that it was fairly apparent that we had very severe conversations about an funding and an fairness stake,” Walden responded. “These aren’t the conversations we’re having proper now, however now we have an ideal partnership and plenty of launches arising over the subsequent two years which might be going to exhibit the worth of this partnership.”
The connection referenced right here was solidified when Disney introduced it acquired a $1.5 billion stake in Epic again in early 2024. It was a large play that it promised would end result in collaborations throughout Fortnite and extra in the long run.
“Our thrilling new relationship with Epic Games will deliver collectively Disney’s beloved manufacturers and franchises with the vastly widespread Fortnite in a transformational new video games and leisure universe,” then-CEO Bob Iger stated. “This marks Disney’s largest entry ever into the world of video games and presents vital alternatives for progress and growth. We are able to’t anticipate followers to expertise the Disney tales and worlds they love in groundbreaking new methods.”
We’re nonetheless feeling the shockwaves of that deal, however some suspected it may evolve into greater than a easy partnership. Tech reporter Alex Heath stated in March 2026 that some Disney executives had been “ready for that second” to go all in on an acquisition. Then, in April, Bloomberg reported that Epic was engaged on an extraction shooter that includes Disney characters with plans to launch in November 2026.
We’re now kicking off October with no official point out of that unannounced challenge, however that does not imply Disney x Epic goes anyplace any time quickly. Whereas an acquisition is not in the playing cards, Walden’s promise concerning “plenty of launches” set to reach in the subsequent few years suggests there may be loads extra to speak about.
We’ll have to attend and see how the 2 leisure giants work collectively transferring ahead. Within the meantime, you may learn among the different methods Disney and Epic have bolstered their relationship, together with a Disneyland-exclusive Fortnite pores and skin and formally licensed Star Wars minigames.
Michael Cripe is a contract author with IGN. He is greatest recognized for his work at websites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. You should definitely give him a observe on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).