Epic Developing Disney Extraction Shooter for 2026

Epic Games is developing an extraction shooter featuring Disney characters, with a planned release in November 2026, as the first project from the companies' partnership.

The game, described by sources familiar with the matter as similar to Embark Studios' Arc Raiders, involves players controlling Disney characters who battle enemies in squad-based missions to reach extraction points. It marks the debut of new content from Disney's $1.5 billion investment in Epic, announced in February 2024, aimed at building a persistent games and entertainment universe around Disney's intellectual properties, including Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, and Avatar. While specifics on featured characters remain unclear, the project builds on years of Disney integrations in Epic's Fortnite, such as Star Wars and Marvel crossovers that have drawn millions of players.

Internal assessments of the shooter have raised concerns about its originality in mechanics, according to multiple current and former Epic employees. Some reviewers noted that early versions felt uninnovative, though others expressed confidence that refinements would improve it before launch. The development timeline has been described as...