Epic is reportedly constructing an extraction shooter for Disney

In addition to a wealth of Fortnite skins primarily based on Disney IP, it hasn’t actually been clear what the leisure firm has gotten in return for its $1.5 billion investment in Epic from 2024. That would change this November, Bloomberg reports, when Epic releases a Disney-themed extraction shooter. The sport is considered one of three Disney initiatives the writer is at present engaged on, and is reportedly anticipated to be Epic’s comeback after the corporate laid off 1,000 employees in March on account of a “downturn in Fortnite engagement.”

The sport is reportedly just like Arc Raiders, a multiplayer shooter the place gamers combat for assets earlier than escaping by means of an extraction level, however with Disney characters preventing enemies as an alternative of post-apocalyptic survivors. Bloomberg writes that inner reviewers have anxious that the sport’s mechanics are “not very authentic,” however the challenge is probably the most promising of the three Epic is growing. The second title obtained middling inner opinions, based on Bloomberg, and Epic moved assets off the third challenge “after experiences that Disney was disenchanted by Epic’s launch timeline.”

“This isn’t reflective of the ambitions of the Disney collaboration,” Liz Markman, Senior Director of Communications at Epic Video games, mentioned in a press release. “We’re constructing a brand new video games and leisure universe of Disney experiences.”

Whereas particulars of Epic’s work for Disney are coming into focus, it is nonetheless unclear whether or not this new extraction shooter shall be a standalone recreation or included as a mode in Fortnite. In its efforts to promote the title as a “multiverse” and a competitor to Roblox, Epic has launched multiple games inside Fortnite over the previous couple of years with distinct mechanics. The developer introduced that it might shut down three of these titles — Rocket Racing, Ballistic and Fortnite Competition Battle Stage — as a part of its current spherical of layoffs. In line with present and former Epic workers Bloomberg spoke to, a number of affected workers have been additionally engaged on these unannounced Disney video games.

When it invested in Epic in 2024, Disney wished to construct an leisure universe, the place gamers may “play, watch, store and interact with content material, characters and tales from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, Avatar, and extra.” Epic’s present plans sound much less all-encompassing than that, but when they handle to extend engagement with Fortnite and Disney’s model, which may not matter.

Replace, April 10, 7:29PM ET: Added a press release from Epic Video games.