Digital giant Sony announced Thursday that it had invested $250 million in Epic Games, developers of hit video game Fortnite. Through the investment, Sony has bought a 1.4% minority stake in Epic. Fortnite is an online battle royale for people around the world.
A Boost to Epic Games
Sony’s investment means a strengthened partnership with Epic. In a CNN report, Sony said that the two companies “have an already close relationship.” Epic Games also welcomed the deal in a press release. Both firms want to push the limits in “socially-connected online services.”
The investment also lets Sony access Epic’s online platform to expand player experiences. Epic has given content creators room to flourish. It could also take advantage of Sony’s deep portfolio of games, assets, and technology. Sony President and CEO, Kenichiro Yoshida, praised Epic. He said the game developer is at the cutting-edge of graphics and game design, as proven by Fortnite. This deal will allow Sony “to delight and bring value to consumers.” Yoshida also said they want to reach more “rapidly evolving” realms of digital entertainment.
Epic CEO Tim Sweeney said they “strive to build an even more open and accessible” digital experience. Consumers can experience better gameplay. They can also create more content. Both companies also “share a vision” of moving across “gaming, film, and music.”
Sony as Gaming Giant
Sony has made gaming history through the Playstation home console. It has also made several classic games over the years. God of War and The Last of Us are some favorites. This year, Sony also plans to dominate the industry again by releasing the much-awaited PS5. Many Sony-exclusive games will also be available upon release.
Fortnite Rules the Industry
Fortnite has already topped game sales charts from 2018 to 2019. CNN says Fortnite dwarfs all other games in single-year sales. So far, it is the only game in history to do so. The game grabbed $1.8 billion in sales in 2019.
For gamers and casual fans, this deal might lead to a new and improved version of home entertainment. It looks like we should expect more great things from Sony and Epic in the future.
