Disney Responds To Rumor That It Could Buy Fortnite Studio Epic Games
Disney has clarified that it is not currently pursuing a full acquisition of Epic Games, the developer of the popular battle royale title Fortnite, despite ongoing rumors suggesting otherwise. Dana Walden, Disney’s President and Chief Creative Officer, addressed the speculation during an interview with Bloomberg, stating that while Disney and Epic had “very serious conversations” about investment, “those are not the conversations we’re having right now.”
The clarification comes nearly two years after Disney made a substantial $1.5 billion investment in Epic Games, acquiring a 9% equity stake in the company in 2024. Rather than pursuing an outright acquisition, Disney and Epic are instead focusing on deepening their existing partnership through collaborative projects.
The two companies are actively working together to develop an “entertainment universe connected to Fortnite,” with plans to launch additional collaborations over the coming years designed to “demonstrate the value” of their partnership. This partnership has already materialized in creative ways, including the recent integration of Fortnite experiences into Disney’s real-world theme parks, expanding the reach of the popular game beyond its digital boundaries.
While an acquisition remains off the table for now, the language used by Walden—stating the talks are not happening “right now”—leaves some ambiguity about whether a full buyout could be a future possibility. For now, Disney appears content to leverage its significant minority stake and existing creative relationship to maximize value rather than assume full control of the studio.