Key Takeaways
- Disney invested $1.5 billion in Epic Games as part of the partnership, but don't expect every Disney character to appear in Fortnite.
- In a new interview, a member of Epic Games revealed that different brands can decide how to use their IP.
- In other words, Mickey doesn't have a gun, but someone like Captain Hook might.
If there's one aspect of Fortnite that doesn't get talked about enough, it's the numerous pop culture characters and real-life celebrities depicted with guns. Because it's not just Goku, The Weeknd, and Elastigirl from The Incredibles who exist in the same world as Cyclops, Shaq, and Naruto.
All characters actively trying to eliminate each other using a variety of weapons, including guns. Because while Fortnite is effectively a metaverse, it is also a battle royale.
However, this is not the case for all characters added to the live service shooter, especially Disney characters. When Disney announced it would invest $1.5 billion in Epic Games to create a “new persistent world,” it wasn't exactly clear what that would look like. But with the new interview, we've added some clarity.
Mickey will do Greedy, but he won't kill.
In an interview with The Verge during Unreal Fest, Epic Games EVP Saxs Persson explained some of the rationale behind this partnership.
“Not every costume can do everything.” Persson said. “no way [Lego] The minifig doesn't have a gun. “Brands must be able to enforce their brand guidelines to the extent that they are satisfied that their brand is associated with a particular class.”
That means Mickey Mouse won't be blowing up anyone in Fortnite anytime soon. The same goes for Woody and Buzz Lightyear. “Some IPs are not top 10 IPs or mature IPs. It’s an E for all IPs,” Persson added.
That said, it's interesting that the Incredibles are included in a group that can commit murder. It will be even more interesting to see which franchises Disney believes fit the bill and which ones don't make the cut, especially since the lines of fantasy violence are often blurred. It certainly doesn't sound as clear and dry as a “yes” or a “no,” but Mickey is definitely a “hard no.”
