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Disney acquires $1.5bn stake in Epic Games, is partnering on "games and entertainment universe" in Fortnite

The Walt Disney Company has announced it's acquiring a $1.5bn USD stake in Epic Games as it launches a multi-year partn…

This new Unreal Engine-powered "persistent universe" will "interoperate" with Fortnite to offer a "multitude of opportunities for consumers to play, watch, shop and engage with content, characters and stories" from across Disney's vast IP portfolio. Watch on YouTube A bit of concept art accompanying today's announcement looks quite a lot like the ultimate interactive entertainment dystopia: an in-Fortnite digital theme park where digital Disney Cruise ships go on fake tours, where a cyberpunk-esque corporate 'zone' sees Disney+-branded skyscrapers loom over an ESPN arena and Star Wars themed Lucasfilm real estate, while an AT-AT battle nudges up against Pandora in the distance. Today's announcement of Epic's multi-year partnership with - and $1.5b investment from - Disney follows the Fortnite maker decision to lay off "around 830 employees" last year - news accompanied by Tim Sweeney's admission that "For a while now, we've been spending way more money than we earn."

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