Disney and Epic Games are partnering to create an expansive entertainment universe, with Disney investing $1.5 billion in Epic. The project, powered by Unreal Engine, will feature content from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, Avatar, and more, offering players opportunities to engage with their favorite characters and stories in new ways.

This collaboration follows Epic's recent ventures into expanding Fortnite beyond its battle royale roots, including collaborations with Lego and the release of games like Lego Fortnite, Fortnite Festival, and Rocket Racing. While Disney has previously worked with Fortnite, this marks its largest entry into gaming.

Despite recent layoffs at both companies, Disney CEO Bob Iger sees this as a significant opportunity for growth, while Epic CEO Tim Sweeney emphasizes the creation of a new, open ecosystem. Specific details about the metaverse's debut are still unknown, but a Mandalorian-themed update for Rocket League is already in the works.