The Partnership Between Disney and Epic Games: Launch of "Disneyland Game Rush" in Fortnite

The ongoing strategic partnership between entertainment giants, Disney and Epic Games, shows promising steps towards developing an integrated virtual world. This collaboration is embodied in the launch of the new "Disneyland Game Rush" island within the Fortnite Creative platform, which took place on November 6. This unique island offers a collection of seven mini-games, each inspired by a prominent landmark from the famous Disneyland, and all games converge around a central area that reflects the spirit of the amusement park. Disney has announced that this digital experience will be available "for a limited time" until January 2024 Source. These mini-games include challenges inspired by iconic landmarks such as "It's a Small World," "Haunted Mansion," "Space Mountain," and others, providing players with an enjoyable interactive experience within the world of Fortnite Source.

"Disneyland Game Rush": A Test of the Interconnected Metaverse Concept

While these mini-games may seem relatively simple compared to more complex products from companies like Lego, which offer sophisticated survival games and social worlds, they constitute a vital test of the interconnected metaverse concept that Disney and Epic Games are looking to develop together. The metaverse is a persistent, three-dimensional virtual world where users can interact with each other and with AI-powered digital objects and experiences in real-time, often integrating elements of virtual and augmented reality Source. "Disneyland Game Rush" island is considered a semi-independent space within the vast world of Fortnite, almost devoid of real violence except for the appearance of some "Star Wars" weapons used in specific challenges to add an interactive character without affecting the non-combat nature of the experience Source. As such, the exclusive rewards available can only be unlocked and used within the boundaries of Disney island. Nevertheless, this experience remains an integral part of the larger Fortnite environment, allowing players to customize their characters with various outfits, and the experience gained from "Game Rush" seamlessly transfers to the rest of the other game modes, just like any other user-created island.

Epic Games' Vision for an Open Metaverse

This architectural model aligns greatly with the vision presented by Saxs Persson, Executive Vice President of Epic Games, last year. Persson clarified that Disney seeks to provide a permanent space that brings together all its content, with its desire for this space to be an essential part of the ecosystem developed by Epic. Persson emphasizes that the true power of interaction between different ecosystems lies in enabling players to move seamlessly and easily between Fortnite worlds and Disney experiences, in addition to any other digital experiences, which enhances the concept of an interconnected metaverse where users can explore multiple worlds without barriers Source.

The Future of Disney in the Virtual World