At D23 2024, Disney printed a Surprise crossover match for Fortnite, along new Disney and Megastar Wars skins set to be to be had within the recreation. After promising primary information, apparently tied to its fresh USD $1.5 billion funding in Fortnite maker Epic Video games, the announcement appeared relatively lacklustre – however a brand new Disney Parks weblog would possibly provide an explanation for why no longer a lot was once in truth printed.
As detailed, Disney and Epic Video games’ primary collaboration challenge remains to be “a couple of years away.” Disney’s preliminary funding, introduced in February 2024, apparently marked the very get started of its partnership with Epic, so any primary initiatives within the works will nonetheless want abundant construction time sooner than they’re in a position for the general public eye. As for what’s at the means, the Disney Parks weblog additionally teased new main points.
“Consider a spot the place all of your favorite Disney characters and worlds converge in a single attached universe — the place you’ll be able to watch, play, or even create your individual adventures,” Allison Citino, Director, Communications, Video games, Publishing and Products mentioned. “Previous this 12 months, Disney introduced a brand new collaboration with Epic Video games, the creators of Fortnite, to construct [an] all-new video games and leisure universe.”
In response to wording, it does seem this “all-new video games and leisure universe” will likely be cut loose Fortnite, however most likely in keeping with the learnings of this recreation. Epic Video games is main construction along Disney, and it has abundant enjoy in development audience-grabbing open-world studies that let for group play and creativity.
Learn: Each and every D23 Disney x Fortnite disclose: New season, skins, extra
Isn’t that simply Disney Dreamlight Valley?
Thus far, Disney and Epic Video games haven’t spilled the beans about their collaboration challenge, however there were abundant clues about what’s within the works. Maximum significantly, an early teaser symbol for his or her plans printed a big map that includes islands in keeping with Disney-owned homes. On this symbol, one island was once particularly Disney-themed, with spaces impressed by means of The Nightmare Prior to Christmas, Destroy-It Ralph and different franchises. Every other island featured Surprise, twentieth Century Fox, Lucasfilm, ESPN, Pixar, and Disney+ as manufacturers, and any other featured Megastar Wars.
Whilst the character of this symbol was once left imprecise, it may well be assumed that Epic Video games’ experience will encourage the delivery of a digital international the place every Disney belongings is explorable in some shape – a digital theme park, of a type.
Will have to that be the case, it’s necessary to invite the query: how will this vary from previous Disney “video games and leisure” universes? Disney Dreamlight Valley already permits you to meet and greet characters, and discover the whole scope of Disney’s most well liked animated worlds. Prior to that, Disney Infinity tried the similar factor, sooner than paintings in this challenge was once unceremoniously cancelled.
Bringing in combination all of Disney’s key manufacturers, together with extra “adult-oriented” content material like ESPN may exchange issues, however it might be honest to mention this new universe will desire a vital hook to tell apart itself from Disney’s previous.
At this degree, we’ll have to attend to peer what Disney has deliberate. It’s transparent there’s one thing primary within the works, past easy skins and occasions in Fortnite, nevertheless it most likely received’t be in a position for disclose for a minimum of a couple of years.
