Disney is not currently discussing a full acquisition of Epic Games, according to Disney president and chief creative officer Dana Walden. Speaking with Bloomberg, Walden said the companies had previously held serious discussions about Disney taking an investment and equity stake in Epic, but buying the Fortnite developer outright is not among the conversations taking place now. Her comments provide a new clarification around the relationship between the two companies after Disney invested $1.5 billion for an equity stake in Epic in 2024.
Walden’s comments also indicate that Disney’s current strategy is focused on expanding the existing partnership rather than taking ownership of Epic. She said Disney has a number of launches planned over the next two years that are intended to demonstrate the value of its relationship with Epic. The companies have not publicly detailed all of those upcoming projects, leaving the specific nature and timing of the planned launches unclear.
Disney and Epic established their expanded partnership in 2024, when Disney announced its $1.5 billion investment alongside plans for a new games and entertainment universe connected to Fortnite. The planned environment is designed to bring Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and other properties into an interconnected digital space where players can interact with characters and create experiences. The project is being developed with Unreal Engine and is intended to extend beyond individual Fortnite collaborations.
The partnership has already produced a growing number of Disney-related experiences inside Fortnite. Recent additions have included crossover content and dedicated experiences built around Disney properties, while the companies have continued to position Fortnite as a way to reach audiences through games rather than traditional film, television or theme-park channels. A Toy Story 5 experience in Fortnite is one example of how Disney properties are being extended into playable experiences.
Disney’s corporate structure also places greater emphasis on gaming than it did previously. In March, the company moved its Games and Digital Entertainment organization into Disney Entertainment under Walden, bringing the games business closer to the company’s film, television and streaming operations. Sean Shoptaw, Disney’s executive vice president of Games and Digital Entertainment, oversees the company’s games business and its collaboration with Epic.
That organizational change is relevant to Disney’s plans with Epic because the company has described games as an important way to connect its characters and stories across different parts of its entertainment business. Disney has previously described Epic’s technology and Fortnite ecosystem as an opportunity to reach audiences that the company does not directly control, particularly younger players. The strategy therefore does not depend on Disney owning Epic for the partnership to expand.
The distinction between an equity investment and a full acquisition is significant. Disney already has a financial interest in Epic through its 2024 investment, but Epic remains an independent company. Disney’s original agreement was structured around both the investment and a multiyear collaboration to develop the connected entertainment universe.
For now, Walden’s comments suggest that Disney intends to continue building on that arrangement rather than pursuing a takeover. The company’s next major steps are expected to come through additional launches and collaborations, although Disney has yet to reveal the full slate. The existing relationship also continues to expand beyond individual character skins, with the broader goal of creating an interconnected Disney gaming presence around Fortnite and Epic’s technology.
