The Metaverse: Why Disney Chooses Fortnite Over Facebook

Disney Invests $1.5 billion in Epic Games

Disney recently made a groundbreaking move by investing $1.5 billion in Epic Games, the creators of the popular game Fortnite. The entertainment conglomerate aims to create an expansive and open games and entertainment universe tied to Fortnite. This bold decision comes in the wake of Fortnite’s transformation from an online shooter to a multi-dimensional experience. Through a series of connected experiences, Fortnite has evolved from a game to a metaverse blending the real and virtual worlds.

Meta’s Struggles in the Metaverse

While Fortnite thrives in the metaverse landscape, Facebook’s parent company, Meta, has faced challenges in establishing itself in the metaverse business. Despite CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s vision of a metaverse company, Meta’s flagship metaverse app, Horizon Worlds, has seen limited use even among its own employees. The definition of the metaverse seems to have undergone a shift for Zuckerberg, moving from a virtual world akin to “Ready Player One” to a blend of the real and virtual with the emergence of buzzwords like AI. Meta’s ambitious vision of the internet has yet to take hold, leaving room for other players like Fortnite to capture the metaverse market.

Fortnite’s Success and the Reason for Disney’s Choice

The key to Fortnite’s success in the metaverse lies in its approach. Unlike Meta and Disney, whose focus was primarily on creating a new virtual world, Fortnite began as a highly entertaining game that resonated with millions of players. It built its metaverse aspirations on the solid foundation of a fun and beloved video game. Incorporating virtual concerts, esports, art galleries, violence-free spaces, and more, Fortnite’s ever-evolving nature ensures its popularity. While other companies chased the metaverse trend, Fortnite started with what people genuinely wanted and expanded upon that.

The Key to Fortnite’s Metaverse Emergence

Saxs Persson, Epic’s executive VP, explained that Fortnite’s success in the metaverse space was not due to fighting a trend but rather capitalizing on existing elements within the game. Epic Games doubled down on the aspects that were already successful within Fortnite. This strategy provided a solid base for the game’s steady evolution, attracting and retaining a growing player community. While Epic faced challenges along the way, such as layoffs and finding a balance between innovation and financial sustainability, it harnessed the power of a beloved game to fuel the metaverse vision.

The Promise of Disney in the Metaverse

Disney’s significant investment in Epic Games positions itself for a potential entry into the metaverse to rival competitors such as Meta. While the exact launch plans of Disney’s metaverse are still unclear, it is worth noting that the company has previously taken steps in this direction. Disney’s leadership expressed the belief that the metaverse represented the next storytelling frontier, leading to the establishment of a metaverse division. Although this division was later eliminated during a wave of layoffs, Disney’s investment in Epic Games suggests a commitment to creating a virtual space that aligns with the metaverse visions of technology executives.

The Evolving Metaverse and Future Possibilities

Presently, Fortnite’s virtual experience may not resemble the extravagant sci-fi depiction of a metaverse. However, the foundations of interconnectedness have already been laid, with elements such as avatars and XP transcending various experiences within the game. Fortnite offers players the opportunity to not only engage in thrilling gameplay but also explore comedy shows, attend concerts, and more. As Disney and Epic Games move forward, the bridging of virtual realms becomes more attainable, providing a glimpse of the metaverse’s potential as more than just a futuristic concept.

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Image: Epic Games