Insight: Did “Family Guy” Help Close The Disney X Epic Games Deal?

The Simpsons may have predicted that the Apple Vision Pro would begin seeping out into our streets but it’s looking more and more like Family Guy helped close a potentially industry-shaking financial deal between Disney and Epic Games.

Waves were made in 2023 when Disney would shut down it’s own metaverse division in a move slated to reduce costs by $5.5 billion leaving some to think that the metaverse is a big joke and nobody cares for it. But, as 2024 kicked off, Web3 technologies are continuing to make new waves in show business and now Disney is making sure it’s not being left behind. Yesterday, Disney made a $1.5 billion investment in Fortnite that will potentially see Disney franchises show up in the gaming universe which is right now at 100 million players strong. That said, one Disney-owned franchise has been a part of Fortnite for several months now and it’s been a huge hit among fans. Watch the launch trailer below.

Late last year, a Family Guy-inspired update dropped in the form of Chapter 5 Episode 1 that featured an NPC Peter Griffin boss battle that with it came along a number of Family Guy items including a Giant Chicken, as well as skins and cosmetics. Fans had been clamoring for this update for years and finally got it to a lot of fanfare which may have helped Disney in their decision-making process in pushing for the deal. Disney knows that adult animation is a big deal for them and is a key growth initiator in countries like India where the company is continuing to invest in the adult animation industry in hopes of garnering returns.

As for the big winner here…Seth MacFarlane. Seth’s coming off of a January month where he celebrated both the 25th anniversary of Family Guy (of which the creator says there is no end is in sight)  and the fact that his new series Ted was Peacock’s biggest streaming premiere of all-time. But, a further interest in the Family Guy brand in Fortnite for which it already has a solid foundation, could be a fruitful investment for all parties involved and ensure that the franchise has viability for generations to come. For example, when the contract for The Simpsons attractions at Universal studios goes up in 2028, not only could Disney take down those attractions and move them over to Disney Parks, but also open up the possibility of further expanding additional attractions inspired by say Family Guy that could be interoperable in both the Fortnite universe and in real-life.

FOX Entertainment may also get a windfall here. Not only due to the fact that Family Guy is a part of the company’s Animation Domination lineup, but because Hulu’s (again Disney) no 3. most-watched series during the final week of January 2024, Krapopolis, is a web3-produced animated series which could help the network become a focal point for animated content bringing in a younger and more tech-savvy crowd that might be useful for advertisers to take advantage of.

Suffice to say, this new Disney X Epic Games deal could have reverberations throughout the industry for years to come. Check out the teaser below which teases other possibilities coming down the pike.