Disney could buy Fortnite developer Epic Games, report claims

Disney logo in Fortnite

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Last Updated: 31 March 2026

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Disney is reportedly interested in acquiring Epic Games, the developer of Fortnite. This information comes from Alex Heath, a veteran tech reporter who recently spoke on The Town podcast. The two companies have had a long-time collaboration since 2018, but it appears that Disney may want something more.

According to the report, several senior executives at Disney are interested in acquiring Epic Games. However, they are just waiting for the right time for the eventual acquisition. Disney taking ownership of Fortnite wouldn’t be surprising, considering that the company has already invested in the game. Furthermore, both companies have an ongoing partnership that is expected to bring big things in the future.

Disney may buy Epic Games and Fortnite soon

The partnership between Epic and Disney began in 2018 when Fortnite was in its first year. The companies collaborated to bring Marvel’s Avengers to the battle royale game, releasing a few skins and a limited-time game mode. Later on, many other Disney characters made it to the game, and Fortnite even had a special season dedicated to Star Wars.

Back in 2024, Disney invested $1.5 billion in Epic Games. This investment involves building a new persistent ecosystem that will bring together Fortnite and Disney communities. While the development of the ecosystem likely won’t be done for another year or two, Disney may acquire the gaming company in the meantime.

“I know for a fact there are senior executives in Disney who want them to buy Epic and are just waiting for that moment, and then there are others who think it’s a bad idea,” Alex Heath said on the podcast. “If Epic ever sold, if it ever decided to call it quits on being an independent company, Disney would be the most natural home for it for a lot of reasons.”

Captain America in Fortnite
Disney has had a long and successful partnership with Epic Games. Image by FRVR

Ultimately, if Disney makes an offer, it will be up to Tim Sweeney, Epic’s CEO, to accept or reject it. The company remains under his control and has seen significant success, especially since the release of Fortnite. Unfortunately, Epic Games recently laid off 1,000 employees, which could signal potential challenges ahead.

While the future of Fortnite is uncertain, players don’t have to worry about it just yet, since Epic will keep releasing new content. For now, players can unlock a free skin in the new season and use some of the best Fortnite XP maps to level up quickly.