Beyond numerous Fortnite cosmetics featuring Disney properties, the specifics of Disney's benefits from its 2024 $1.5 billion funding in Epic Games remained vague. According to Bloomberg, this situation may shift in November with the launch of a Disney-centric extraction shooter from Epic. This title forms part of three ongoing Disney initiatives at the studio, positioned as a potential recovery effort following the March dismissal of 1,000 staff amid declining Fortnite player activity.
The title draws comparisons to Arc Raiders, a team-based shooter involving resource gathering and evacuation from danger zones, though it swaps dystopian fighters for Disney icons battling foes. Sources cited by Bloomberg note that company insiders have expressed concerns over the title's lack of innovative gameplay elements, yet it stands out as the strongest among the trio in development. A second project garnered only average feedback internally, per the report, while resources were redirected from the third after feedback that Disney found Epic's delivery schedule unsatisfactory.
Liz Markman, Epic Games' Senior Director of Communications, issued a response stating, 'This does not align with the goals of our partnership with Disney. We are creating an innovative realm of gaming and entertainment centered on Disney content.'
As more information emerges about Epic's Disney endeavors, questions persist on whether the extraction shooter will launch independently or integrate into Fortnite as a new mode. To promote Fortnite as a 'multiverse' alternative to platforms like Roblox, Epic has embedded various distinct experiences within the battle royale over recent years. The company recently decided to discontinue three such integrations—Rocket Racing, Ballistic, and Fortnite Festival Battle Stage—amid the layoffs. Bloomberg's interviews with present and past Epic staff revealed that some of those impacted were contributing to the undisclosed Disney titles.
Disney's 2024 investment in Epic aimed to establish a comprehensive entertainment ecosystem allowing users to 'play, watch, shop, and interact with elements from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, Avatar, and beyond.' Epic's existing strategies appear more limited in scope, but success in boosting Fortnite participation and Disney's visibility could render that secondary.