'The Mandalorian and Grogu' Watch Party Island in Epic Games' 'Fortnite.' Epic Games The Walt Disney Co. and Epic Games are doubling down on Star Wars in Fortnite, launching a slew of new games and features that will bring characters and worlds from the franchise to the video game, and tee up the first Star Wars film in years The Mandalorian and Grogu in the process.
Star Wars has been a frequent presence in Fortnite for years, mostly through special events and some branded seasons of the game, but the new features significantly build on that, with a toolkit that lets developers build their own Star Wars games inside the platform.
“Storytelling today isn’t confined to a single screen — it lives in worlds fans can step into and shape together,” Sean Shoptaw, executive VP of Disney Games and Digital Entertainment, tells The Hollywood Reporter. “Our work with Epic reflects this shared belief. From The Mandalorian and Grogu Watch Party Island to the creator-built experiences launching on May 1, we’re excited to empower the Fortnite creator community to tell their own Star Wars stories for the first time in a safe and authentic way. The combination of cinematic storytelling, social connection, and a passionate creator community is how these worlds can deepen fandom and engage new fans in innovative ways.”
May 1 will see three games launch from Lucasfilm and Epic: Galactic Siege, a 10 vs 10 battle across planets; Escape Vader, a four-player cooperative game where teams attempt to escape Darth Vader; and Droid Tycoon, where users can build and customize droids. New games will be rolling out throughout May.
But it is giving creators and developers the ability to play in the Star Wars sandbox that could have the most impact, as users will be able to create their own islands and worlds that others can play, using Star Wars characters, vehicles and IP.
And the companies will launch The Mandalorian and Grogu Watch Party Island on May 19, a world where players can watch 10 minutes from the upcoming film. On May 26, director Jon Favreau will appear on the island’s amphitheater for a Q&A about the movie.
“Star Wars is one of the most iconic universes in entertainment,” Epic Games president Adam Sussman tells THR. “For the first time, Epic, Disney and Lucasfilm, are putting it in the hands of creators, giving them the ability to build Star Wars experiences with the iconic heroes, environments and vehicles fans love. It’s a new way for players to come together in Fortnite to play, explore and create their own Star Wars adventures with their friends.”
Epic and Disney, of course, have a long-term partnership, with Disney also serving as an investor in the company. The two companies are working on an entertainment platform that will be connected to Fortnite and be filled with the company’s characters and worlds. The expanded Star Wars collaboration could be seen as something of a preview for what is possible there.
“Josh [D’Amaro]and Disney really get it and have a crisp understanding of how the future of their film and TV IP, Disney+ and games fit together into a digital ecosystem and tie into parks and other things,” Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney told THR after D’Amaro was elevated to CEO of Disney.
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