Epic Games, the studio behind Fortnite, is reportedly developing a new extraction shooter featuring Disney characters, with a planned launch in November 2026. According to a Bloomberg report, this unnamed project is part of a $1.5 billion investment Disney made in Epic Games back in 2024, which is also expected to yield two additional titles.
The upcoming game is described as a shooter similar to Embark Studios' successful Arc Raiders, which launched last year. Sources indicate that while some at Epic are optimistic about the project's potential, internal reviews have raised concerns about unoriginal game mechanics.
Disney characters have already made numerous appearances in Fortnite since the investment, including recent additions like Buzz Lightyear and Emperor Zurg as playable skins. Last month, Epic introduced tools allowing players to create their own Star Wars experiences within Fortnite, building on previous Marvel crossovers.
It remains unclear which Disney characters will feature in the extraction shooter. Details about the two additional games are even more vague, with Bloomberg reporting mixed internal reviews for the second project and reallocated resources for the third. Sources claim Disney was "disappointed" with progress on these other titles, prompting resource shifts.
Epic's senior director of global communications, Liz Markman, countered these reports, stating they are "not reflective of the ambitions of the Disney collaboration." She emphasized that Epic is "building a new games and entertainment universe of Disney experiences" and explained that aggressive timelines have led to developers being moved to projects with approaching releases, while smaller teams work on longer-term prototypes.
A Disney representative affirmed the company's commitment to the partnership, saying they remain "focused on our long-term collaboration with Epic which continues to have strong momentum."
This news follows recent layoffs at Epic Games, where 1,000 employees were let go due to a "downturn in engagement" and financial challenges. The company also announced plans to discontinue its Rocket Racing, Ballistic, and Festival Battle Stage experiences. Meanwhile, industry analysts are examining the studio's struggles, and tech reporter Alex Heath suggested on The Town podcast that Disney has shown interest in potentially acquiring Epic Games.
