Disney has finally answered the rumors that it could buy Epic Games, the company behind Fortnite. Speaking at Bloomberg’s Screentime event this week, Disney President and Chief Creative Officer Dana Walden made it clear that a deal is not on the table right now.
“Those are not the conversations we’re having right now,” Walden said. She added that Disney and Epic have a great partnership, and she hinted at plenty more to come. According to Walden, the two companies have “a number of launches coming up in the next two years that are going to demonstrate the value of this partnership.”
Rumors about a possible Disney purchase of Epic Games have been around for months. Some reports even claimed senior Disney leaders wanted the deal and were just waiting for the right time. Interest grew after Josh D’Amaro became Disney CEO, since he is known as a big supporter of growing Disney’s presence in gaming. A deal would also be tricky. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney holds voting control of the company, so any sale would need his approval.
Disney is already deeply tied to Epic. In February 2024, Disney invested $1.5 billion in Epic Games for an equity stake. At the same time, the two companies announced a new Disney entertainment universe connected to Fortnite. It will bring together characters and stories from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and Avatar in a place where fans can play, watch, shop, and create.
Fortnite players have already seen plenty of Disney magic over the years. Marvel heroes, Star Wars, Pirates of the Caribbean, Toy Story, and Avatar have all shown up in the game. Next up is a big tie-in with Avengers: Doomsday, set to arrive with Fortnite Chapter 8.
So for now, Disney isn’t buying Epic Games. But with new launches promised over the next two years, Disney fans and Fortnite players have plenty to look forward to.
Do you think Disney should buy Epic Games someday? What Disney characters would you love to see in Fortnite next? Let us know in the comments!
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