Epic Games is broadening its horizons, announcing expanded support for Unity-based titles within the Fortnite ecosystem.

The news broke on the 19th during the annual Unity developer conference, 'Unite,' where Epic Games founder and CEO Tim Sweeney took to the stage. "It is a step toward the shared values of openness and interoperability," Sweeney remarked, adding that they are building an environment where developers aren't shackled by their choice of engine, allowing them to ship games across various platforms with ease.

Starting next year, this collaboration means Unity developers can finally launch their own games directly into Fortnite. Not only that, but they will also be able to tap into Fortnite’s creator economy. While Fortnite has traditionally focused on an ecosystem anchored by Unreal Engine and UEFN, this move signals a pivot toward embracing the Unity engine as well.

In a reciprocal move, Unity is adding support for Unreal Engine to its own cross-platform commerce tools. This allows Unreal Engine developers to manage digital catalogues, integrate payment services, run web shops, and handle pricing and promotions across PC, mobile, and web with far greater flexibility. Expect to see these features integrated directly into the Unreal Engine workflow by early next year.

During his keynote, Sweeney doubled down on his vision for an open ecosystem that spans mobile, PC, consoles, and creator platforms. "Fair and open platform environments must be built through cooperation between companies," he noted, framing the partnership with Unity as a pivotal moment to help developers reach wider audiences and achieve commercial success.

Further details regarding the roadmap for the Epic Games and Unity partnership are expected to be unveiled throughout the coming year.