Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney recently responded to a Wall Street Journal article that claimed the upcoming Disney collaboration with Fortnite, known as “Project Bulldog,” was delayed due to Disney’s slow decision-making. The article suggested that numerous sign-offs needed from Disney’s divisions were causing the postponement to 2026.
Taking to social media, Sweeney quickly dismissed these claims, describing the anonymous quote as false. He emphasized the impressive speed and efficiency of their Disney collaborations, such as the one featuring Darth Vader, which he claimed far surpassed typical industry timelines. Despite providing a statement to the article’s writer, Sweeney noted it was not included in the publication.
Announced in February 2024, Project Bulldog is a joint effort between Epic Games and Disney, bolstered by Disney’s significant $1.5 billion investment. Although specifics about the project’s content remain under wraps, it’s set to introduce a Disneyland-style mode within Fortnite.
Overseen by Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Josh D’Amaro, the initiative is scheduled for a fall 2026 release, which Sweeney did not contest. Disney’s careful attention to its characters and intellectual properties has been evident in past projects, such as the partnership with Square Enix on Kingdom Hearts.
Disney’s proactive involvement in Project Bulldog is highlighted by D’Amaro’s recent visit to Epic’s North Carolina headquarters. This aligns with the trend of successful character integrations from franchises like Marvel, Star Wars, and Pixar within Fortnite.
An example of swift integration was observed when The Fantastic Four: First Steps premiered on July 25, 2025, followed by immediate in-game releases of related character skins, items, and emotes.
Fortnite remains a dominant force in the battle royale genre, recently recording a 24-hour peak of 1,598,655 concurrent players, and hitting an all-time peak of 14,343,880 users across various platforms. This ongoing popularity underscores the game’s ability to continually attract and engage players through dynamic collaborations and new content.
