In 2024, Disney announced a $1.5 billion investment in Epic Games, maker of the ever-popular video game Fortnite. The two companies revealed plans to develop a “persistent universe” built on the Fortnite platform that will allow fans of all ages to play, watch, shop, and interact across the worlds of Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Lucasfilm.
Today, Disney took its first major step toward creating that universe with the launch of Disneyland Game Rush, a game within the larger world of Fortnite that allows players to explore a realm inspired by Disneyland and enjoy various minigames based on iconic attractions — from classics like the Haunted Mansion and Matterhorn to newer favorites like Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout!
Although Disney has integrated various IPs and franchises into Fortnite before, this marks the company’s first self-contained, Disney-branded Epic Games experience—likely serving as a testing ground for Disney’s larger, permanent universe that will be interoperable with Fortnite, according to a Disney press release.
Players of this Disneyland-themed game-within-a-game can earn and collect various Disneyland-inspired gear for their avatars. It’s a safe bet that digital goods will play a major role in Disney’s future offerings. For now, they’re free rewards earned through gameplay, but the broader Fortnite platform allows users to exchange real money for virtual “V-Bucks” used to purchase cosmetic items to wear and show off to friends. The free-to-play game also monetizes itself through “Battle Passes,” which let players pay to unlock additional in-game items as they progress—creating a symbiotic “gameplay loop,” in industry parlance, between player and platform.
Disney is reportedly targeting a Fall 2026 launch for its “persistent universe.” Few details have been revealed so far, except that it will integrate with real-world Disney theme park experiences including the upcoming Mandalorian and Grogu overlay of Smugglers Run at Disneyland and Walt Disney World, as well as the planned Disney park in Abu Dhabi.
With Disneyland Game Rush now online, Disney and Epic Games are surely watching closely to see how players react and interact with this early glimpse of their forthcoming Disney universe; fine-tuning the experience before unveiling it to an eager gaming public.
