Former Disney executive Kevin Mayer said Disney may need a much bigger move in gaming if CEO Josh D’Amaro wants to lift revenue and the company’s share price, and he specifically pointed to Epic Games as a possible acquisition target. The main obstacle is simple. Epic founder and CEO Tim Sweeney holds full voting control, which means any sale would depend on his decision.
Kevin Mayer says Disney needs a stronger gaming strategy
Speaking to CNBC on March 18, Mayer said D’Amaro would need to take “bolder action” to create growth, including acquiring a gaming company such as Epic Games. He described Disney’s $1.5 billion investment in Epic as “a very correct decision,” but suggested that an investment alone is not the end goal. The bigger question, in his view, is how Disney can turn gaming into a real growth engine rather than a side business.
Mayer also argued that Epic, or other gaming-related assets, would strengthen Disney’s broader portfolio. Disney already has a deep library of intellectual property. What is now being debated is how that IP can be pushed deeper into interactive entertainment and virtual worlds.
Disney executives are not aligned on a takeover
Tech journalist Alex Heath said on the podcast The Town that there are definitely Disney executives who want to acquire Epic Games when the timing is right. That does not mean the company has reached a shared position. He also said some decision-makers inside Disney see that kind of acquisition as too risky.
Heath added that if Epic were ever to sell, Disney would be one of the most natural buyers because the two companies are closely aligned in IP, content, and virtual world ambitions. Even so, the deal logic does not change the control structure. As long as Sweeney stays committed to keeping Epic independent, Disney cannot force the process forward.
The current partnership already centers on Fortnite
Disney and Epic are already tied together through a 2024 investment worth $1.5 billion. The two companies are building a large interactive world connected to Fortnite and Disney’s IP, with a model described in the source as similar to Roblox, combining social interaction, entertainment, and virtual spending.
That marks a shift from Disney’s older gaming approach. For years, Disney relied heavily on licensing, with outside studios handling major titles such as Star Wars Jedi: Survivor from Respawn, while Marvel and other franchises were licensed to various developers. Disney once tried operating its own game division through Disney Interactive Studios, but that effort ended in 2016 after Disney Infinity was shut down. Past talk of buying Electronic Arts also never turned into a deal, showing Disney has historically been careful with major acquisitions.
Layoffs and softer Fortnite revenue add to speculation
Epic Games has also been under pressure. The source says the company recently carried out large-scale layoffs affecting more than 1,000 employees, while dealing with cost issues. Softer Fortnite revenue and reports of some modes being shut down have led the market to question the company’s longer-term stability.
That has fueled speculation that Disney could use the moment to expand its investment or consider a full acquisition. At this stage, though, the story remains one of executive comments, internal debate, and outside market expectations. The final call still sits with Tim Sweeney.