Disney Has 9 Gaming Franchises That Have Generated $1 Billion+ At Retail, Including Kingdom Hearts

Disney has announced that its gaming portfolio includes nine franchises that have each generated over $1 billion in retail sales, positioning video games as a “fundamental part of the broader entertainment landscape” for the company.

The announcement came via a blog post from Sean Shoptaw, Disney’s gaming chief, ahead of the D23 Expo. Kingdom Hearts and Marvel Strike Force are among the billion-dollar franchises in Disney’s gaming portfolio, which includes multiple publishing divisions: Disney Pixar Games, Marvel Games, Lucasfilm Games, and 20th Century Games.

A significant portion of these billion-dollar franchises are relatively recent additions to Disney’s lineup, with more than half having launched within the past 12 years. The company emphasized that these successes reflect the medium’s capacity for original storytelling unique to video games.

Disney’s gaming operations have demonstrated substantial financial performance in recent years, driving an estimated $3.5 billion in annual consumer spending over the past four years, with spending recently crossing $4 billion in the past fiscal year. The company has also expanded its gaming ecosystem through partnerships, including a close relationship with Epic Games and the Fortnite Creative platform, as well as titles like Marvel Rivals that have found particular success with younger audiences.

The timing of the announcement precedes an anticipated Kingdom Hearts panel at D23, where news about Kingdom Hearts 4 is expected to be revealed. The franchise’s achievement of billion-dollar status highlights the significant role established gaming properties will continue to play in Disney’s entertainment strategy moving forward.

Disney Has 9 Gaming Franchises That Have Generated $1 Billion+ At Retail, Including Kingdom Hearts

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