adminTalk of a Disney Epic Games buyout has resurfaced, but Disney president and chief creative officer Dana Walden says an acquisition is not part of the companies’ current discussions. Instead, Disney and Epic Games are concentrating on projects intended to demonstrate the value of their partnership, including experiences connected to major entertainment franchises.
Image credit: Epic Games/The Walt Disney Company
Disney Epic Games buyout rumours: what Dana Walden said
Speaking at Bloomberg’s Screentime event, Walden referred to the “very serious conversations” between the companies after Disney made a $1.5 billion equity investment in Epic Games in 2024. She said their attention is on upcoming launches that can show what the collaboration can achieve.
Walden addressed speculation about a possible acquisition directly, saying, “Those are not the conversations we are having right now.” Her comment describes the companies’ current focus; it does not announce a change to the investment or the partnership.
When the investment was announced, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney said Epic would “continue to maintain control of the board following the close of [the] transaction.” The investment therefore did not mean that Disney had bought Epic Games.
What the Disney and Epic Games partnership includes
The companies have been working toward a new “games and entertainment universe,” bringing Disney stories and characters into interactive experiences. A recent promotion for The Mandalorian and Grogu connected Fortnite with Disneyland through an Epic-created island called Smugglers Gambit.
In the experience, players visit Disneyland and take part in an activity connected to Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run. Walden said visitors can link their Disney and Fortnite IDs. The ride includes a light degree of personalisation, while digital rewards earned through the experience can be redeemed in Fortnite.
For visitors, the practical detail is that linking accounts is part of the described experience. Anyone considering doing so should review the relevant account and privacy settings before connecting identities.
More franchise collaborations
Other collaborations since the investment have featured characters from Pirates of the Caribbean, The Incredibles and The Nightmare Before Christmas, alongside updates involving Star Wars and Marvel. Some of these activities have also connected digital entertainment with Disneyland attractions, including Smuggler’s Run.
Disney Experiences chairman Josh D’Amaro has described the partnership as a way to bring the company’s stories and experiences to a broad audience in new ways. He has also pointed to Epic’s technology and Fortnite’s open ecosystem as tools for reaching people through the platforms they already use.
What to watch next
The companies’ upcoming launches will provide a clearer view of how their collaboration develops. For now, Walden’s remarks indicate that the focus is on creating and promoting shared experiences, not negotiating a Disney Epic Games buyout. Future announcements about projects or the investment would be needed to establish any change in that position.
