The Disney-Epic team-up is the first metaverse deal that actually matters
“Play, watch, shop and engage.”
If you were under any illusion that Disney’s new partnership with Epic Games on a Fortnite-connected “games and entertainment universe” was a traditional video game, that line from Disney’s announcement should disabuse you.
Disney and Epic are quite clear that what they are building is more than “a world-class games experience.” The promotional artwork released alongside the announcement depicts something that looks like a digital version of one of Disney’s own theme parks. A “World of Disney” plaza is surrounded by buildings themed around The Nightmare Before Christmas, Cars, and The Avengers. Corporate logos for Disney Plus and 20th Century Studios hover near an ESPN stadium and a giant statue of… is that Groot? The battle for the planet Hoth rages eternally in a Star Wars zone in the distance. There are even virtual Disney cruise ships.
Much like Fortnite itself, then, this will be a space where you can do more than just hop into X-wings and fly around blasting stuff. It looks like somewhere to hang out with your friends and gawk at cool, recognizable things; a level of social, virtual tourism is implied. But the interesting verbs in that line — the ones that suggest an expansion of what Fortnite already does — are “watch” and “shop.”
These verbs are at the very core of The Walt Disney Company’s identity: a company that has spent 100 years making stuff for people to watch, and most of those 100 years selling merchandise off the back of it. To Fortnite, watching and shopping are important, but less central. Epic makes its billions from Fortnite’s item store, but it has yet to successfully and consistently sell real-world goods from within the game. It’s not totally clear whether Disney means players will be shopping for in-game items or physical merch, but it’s a safe bet that it means both.
“Watch” is even more interesting. Fortnite occasionally transforms into a space for more passive entertainment experiences: Its season-ending
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