Fortnite Creators Can Now Develop Star Wars Games with Epic and Disney’s Collaboration

Epic Games and Disney are gearing up for an exciting announcement as their partnership continues to evolve. Back in June, Epic revealed that creators in Fortnite would soon have the ability to craft custom Star Wars-themed games and experiences, and starting Thursday, that feature is finally rolling out. While creators can dive into building these experiences now, they’ll be able to share them with players starting May 1st.

Since the introduction of the Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN), which allows creators to design experiences alongside Epic’s own game modes like battle royale and Fortnite Festival, Epic has been adding a variety of popular franchises, including Lego, Squid Game, and KPop Demon Hunters. However, as Andre Balta, Epic’s senior director of ecosystem growth, points out, creators have been eagerly asking, “When are we getting Star Wars?”

Epic has a rich history with Star Wars; Fortnite’s battle royale mode has featured crossovers with the franchise for seven years, including exclusive clips from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and an entire season dedicated to Star Wars. Balta notes that Disney has been an “amazing” partner in providing Star Wars assets for UEFN creators, emphasizing their commitment to empowering creators from the start. However, it’s important to remember that brands impose certain guidelines, and for those looking to create a Star Wars-themed island, there’s a requirement to share 20 percent of their earnings with Disney.

With Epic’s tools, creators will have the opportunity to incorporate iconic characters like Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader, vehicles such as X-wings and TIE fighters, weapons including lightsabers and blasters, and even rideable Tauntauns.

In 2024, Disney announced a significant investment of $1.5 billion in Epic, collaborating to develop a “persistent universe” linked to Fortnite. Nearly two years later, Balta mentions that this project is still “deep in development,” and during a recent shareholder meeting, new Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro briefly referenced the universe. While the specifics remain under wraps, Balta assures that Star Wars is just the beginning, with more franchises on the horizon for creators to explore.

As always, Fortnite is buzzing with activity. Epic is also launching the latest battle royale season, titled Showdown, featuring Looney Tunes’ Bugs Bunny and the return of Dwayne Johnson’s Fortnite character. Additionally, the game is now back on Android globally. Ahead of the new season and platform launch, Epic has increased the price of its in-game currency, V-Bucks, citing rising operating costs as the reason for the adjustment.