Gaming giant Sony and KIRKBI – the company behind The Lego Group – have both invested $1bn (£767m) each into Epic Games, which is best known for the hugely successful game Fortnite.
Epic Games have released a statement, stating that both companies have provided them with funding to “advance the company’s vision to build the metaverse and support its continued growth.”
“As a creative entertainment company, we are thrilled to invest in Epic to deepen our relationship in the metaverse field, a space where creators and users share their time,”said Kenichiro Yoshida, Chairman, President and CEO, Sony Group Corporation.
Sony has already invested in Epic Games before, but the company’s keen interest in the metaverse has inspired them to put more cash on the table. The metaverse is mostly still just an idea: a virtual-reality space in which users can interact with a computer-generated environment and other users. The concept that hasn’t quite materialised yet, but Epic’s Fortnite represents something that could certainly use the technology effectively.
As life seems to move more and more online into virtual worlds, this is a considerable move from Sony and KIRKBI. Tim Sweeney, the CEO and Founder of Epic Games, said the company is re-imagining the future of entertainment, a statement that is as inspirational as it is daunting.
“This investment will accelerate our work to build the metaverse and create spaces where players can have fun with friends, brands can build creative and immersive experiences and creators can build a community and thrive,” said Sweeney of the company’s vision.
