Epic CEO Denies Staff Complaints About Disney’s Alleged Slow Decisions

Epic CEO Denies Staff Complaints About Disney’s Alleged Slow Decision-Making

Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, has firmly dismissed recent reports that unnamed employees at Epic were frustrated with the slowness of Disney’s internal approval process—specifically around their collaborative Fortnite–Disney metaverse project. He labeled the claims as “BS” and highlighted the exceptionally fast pace of previous Disney–Epic rollouts.

📢 What Sweeney Said

Sweeney took to X (formerly Twitter) to refute anonymous quotes published in The Wall Street Journal, which alleged that the Disney–Fortnite metaverse, internally known as “Project Bulldog,” was delayed due to “sign-offs needed from many divisions” at Disney. According to him:

“The anonymous quote is BS. The speed of Disney and Epic collaborations like Darth Vader has been awesome and is around 10x the ordinary speed of media company dealings in this business. We even provided a statement… but they chose not to print it.”
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🧩 The Context Behind the Rumors

The deal stems from Disney’s $1.5 billion equity investment in Epic, announced in early 2024, which included plans for a sprawling digital universe hosted within Fortnite. It’s set to feature themed islands for Disney properties such as Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar, and Avatar.
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The WSJ report suggested that despite the universe reaching a stable build, its full launch had been pushed to Fall 2026 due to internal delays at Disney.
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🏗️ Fast-Moving Collaborations

In contrast to the alleged delays, Sweeney points to previous collaborations—like the AI-powered Darth Vader character integration in Fortnite—as examples of fast turnaround. That rollout reportedly happened at around 10 times the typical speed of media collaborations, under intense scrutiny from Disney’s legal, creative, and licensing teams.
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The Darth Vader bot reached roughly 10 million interactions before moderation issues—such as users prompting the character to swear—were addressed within 30 minutes.
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📅 What’s Still on Track

Though launch timing was not directly disputed, Sweeney did not deny the Fall 2026 release window. The primary issue he addressed was the notion of frustration with Disney’s decision-making speed, not the project timeline itself.
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🧠 Why It Matters

• For Epic and Disney, this project represents a strategic bet on immersive entertainment, shopping, and live events within a persistent Fortnite universe—melding Disney’s IP with Epic’s gaming platform.

• For the industry, the public pushback and rapid scheduling highlight the challenges of combining large-scale corporate IP with fast-moving user-generated content and AI.

• For fans and brand watchers, Sweeney’s public denial underscores Epic’s eagerness to control its narrative and reassure stakeholders of progress.
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🧾 Summary

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Epic CEO Denies Claims of Staff Complaints About Disney’s Alleged Slow Decision-Making

Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, has delivered a blunt rebuke to recent reports claiming that Epic insiders are frustrated with the slow decision-making process at Disney. The reports—citing anonymous sources—suggested that the companies’ joint Fortnite–Disney initiative (“Project Bulldog”) has been delayed due to approvals needed across Disney’s divisions. Sweeney responded emphatically, calling the claims “BS.” Video Games Chronicle+2X (formerly Twitter)+2

🗣️ Sweeney’s Direct Response

On X (formerly Twitter), Sweeney pushed back, stating:

“The anonymous quote is BS. The speed of Disney and Epic collaborations like Darth Vader has been awesome and is around 10× the ordinary speed of media company dealings in this business. We even provided a statement … but they chose not to print it.” Facebook+10Video Games Chronicle+10The Express Tribune+10

He underscored that past collaborations—like the AI‑powered Darth Vader integration—moved at exceptional speed, contrary to the narrative in the Wall Street Journal. Gaming Amigos

🔍 Background on the Disney–Epic Collaboration

Epic and Disney first announced their partnership in February 2024, anchored by a $1.5 billion Disney equity investment in Epic. The project aims to build a persistent, Disneyland-style universe inside Fortnite, featuring areas based on properties such as Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar, and Avatar. Internally referred to as Project Bulldog, the mode is reportedly targeting a fall 2026 launch. Insider Gaming+6Video Games Chronicle+6Gaming Amigos+6

🧪 Sources of Tension: What the WSJ Claimed

The Wall Street Journal reported that unnamed Epic executives had criticized Disney’s pace, saying many divisions needed to sign off on content, causing delays. The report added that Disney executives were also grappling with concerns over intellectual property rights—especially around user-generated content such as fan-made dances involving Disney characters. The article named Josh D’Amaro, head of Disney Parks, as the executive overseeing the project. X (formerly Twitter)+5wsj.com+5The Express Tribune+5

⚡ Fast Execution Examples

Sweeney pointed to the Darth Vader AI bot as proof of how quickly Epic and Disney can move. That collaboration reportedly executed at roughly 10× the typical pace of media company projects. Following its launch, over 10 million players interacted with the bot, and moderation issues were addressed within minutes. inkl+8The Express Tribune+8Gaming Amigos+8

🚀 Current Status & Outlook

• Sweeney did not deny the reported fall 2026 release timeline.

• His focus was solely on denying internal discontent or official slowness at Disney.

• The companies remain publicly committed to delivering the experience within the projected timeframe. Insider Gaming+2The Express Tribune+2

🧠 Why It Matters

• For Epic and Disney: The success of Project Bulldog could redefine branded digital experiences and virtual worlds.

• For the industry: Conflicts over content pace and IP illustrate challenges in merging large entertainment companies with fast-moving games ecosystems.

• For public perception: Sweeney’s response underscores Epic’s control over its narrative and reaffirmation that the collaboration is proceeding swiftly.

✅ Quick Recap

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