In a move set to redefine the gaming landscape, Epic Games and Unity have announced a groundbreaking collaboration. This partnership will see games developed with the Unity engine integrated directly into Fortnite, expanding the popular platform’s content offerings and providing new avenues for developers. The initiative aims to foster a more open and interoperable future for the gaming industry.
Key Takeaways
- Unity games will be publishable within Fortnite, accessing its massive player base.
- Developers can participate in the Fortnite Creator Economy.
- Unity will integrate Unreal Engine support into its cross-platform commerce platform.
- The partnership signals a move towards a more open metaverse.
Expanding Fortnite’s Ecosystem
Epic Games is opening the doors of Fortnite, one of the world’s largest gaming ecosystems with over 500 million registered accounts, to developers using the Unity engine. This collaboration allows these developers to publish their games directly into Fortnite, tapping into its vast audience and participating in the Fortnite Creator Economy. This move significantly broadens the scope of experiences available within Fortnite, moving beyond its traditional battle royale roots and user-generated content to include a wider array of professionally developed titles.
A More Open Metaverse
Both Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney and Unity President and CEO Matt Bromberg emphasized the importance of collaboration and open systems in building the future of gaming. Sweeney stated that "companies need to work together in order to build the open metaverse in a way that’s interoperable and fair." This partnership is seen as a crucial step towards that vision, fostering growth and providing more choice for developers and players alike. The goal is to create a decentralized Fortnite that functions more like the open web, where content from various sources can coexist and be easily accessed.
Mutual Integration and Future Prospects
Beyond bringing Unity games to Fortnite, the partnership involves reciprocal integration. Unity will be bringing Unreal Engine support to its cross-platform commerce platform, offering Unreal developers more flexibility in managing their digital catalogs, payment providers, and web shops across different platforms. While specific details and exact timing are still emerging, it’s anticipated that developers will gain the ability to manage pricing, promotions, and live operations for their Unreal Engine projects through Unity’s platform starting early next year. Further announcements regarding the partnership and product timelines are expected in the coming year, with initial integrations slated for 2026.
