Epic Games, the studio behind Fortnite, is cooking up something big with Disney. They’re reportedly making a new extraction shooter game featuring Disney characters that’s set to launch this November. Think of it as a game where your favorite Disney heroes and villains team up to fight enemies and escape to safety, in a style similar to the game Arc Raiders.
Disney’s $1.5 Billion Bet on Epic Begins to Take Shape
Back in 2024, Disney invested $1.5 billion in Epic Games, aiming to build a whole new universe of games and experiences based on Disney’s huge portfolio – Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, and more. This extraction shooter is the first of at least three games Epic is developing as part of that partnership. It’s a big deal because it’s not just another Fortnite crossover; it’s a fresh game designed around Disney characters fighting their way through hostile environments until they can get out alive.
While the exact Disney characters involved haven’t been revealed, we know Epic has a huge history of bringing Disney icons into Fortnite, from Star Wars legends to Marvel superheroes and even quirky characters like Perry the Platypus. So whatever this game is, it’s safe to say it will have some familiar faces.
Related: Disney Might Buy Epic Games and Shake Up Fortnite Future Big Time
Gameplay Details Leak, but Concerns Surface Internally
According to insiders, the gameplay mechanics aren’t groundbreaking. In fact, some say it’s “not very original,” taking clear inspiration from Arc Raiders – a PvPvE extraction shooter where players fight off enemies and try to escape. But don’t count it out yet. Epic’s team remains hopeful they’ll polish it enough to make the game enjoyable by its November release.
This optimism comes despite some internal worries about rushed schedules and Epic’s recent struggles. The company laid off over 1,000 employees earlier this year and announced it would shut down some Fortnite game modes that didn’t hit the mark. So the pressure is definitely on Epic to get this Disney shooter right.
Epic’s senior director of global communications, Liz Markman, pushed back against the idea that the project is underwhelming. She said the report is “not reflective of the ambitions of the Disney collaboration” and emphasized that Epic and Disney are “building a new games and entertainment universe of Disney experiences.” Disney echoed this by calling their partnership “transformational” and said they remain “focused” on the long-term project.
High Stakes for Epic’s Expanding Disney Pipeline
Besides this extraction shooter, Epic is working on two more Disney-related games. However, sources say the second game has had mixed feedback internally, and resources were pulled from a third project after Disney expressed frustration over delays. So this extraction shooter is now the top priority, which makes its success even more important.
The game will enter a crowded space filled with other new PvPvE shooters launching this year, like Bungie’s Marathon and Krafton’s PUBG: Black Budget. Even with Epic’s Fortnite pedigree and Disney’s massive IPs behind it, success is far from guaranteed. But if they pull it off, this could open the door to a whole new way of experiencing Disney stories through games.
Keep an eye out this November when Epic’s Disney extraction shooter officially drops. It might just surprise you.
