Epic Games, creator of Fortnite, has been at the forefront of the development of the metaverse over the past 18 months as it doubles down on immersive experiences and concerts within its platform. It has now acquired independent game development company Harmonix, which has produced popular music-based games such as Guitar Hero and Rock Band, to continue its mission of reimaging musical experiences for the metaverse.
Harmonix will work with Epic to create new avenues for fans and players to enjoy music from their favorite artists on Fortnite, which has previously hosted virtual concerts from Marshmello and Ariana Grande, among others.
“Harmonix has always aspired to create the world’s most beloved interactive music experiences, and by joining Epic we will be able to do this at scale,” said Alex Rigopulos, Harmonix Co-Founder and Chairman, in a statement. “Together we will push the creative boundaries of what’s possible and invent new ways for our players to make, perform and share music.”
Harmonix notes that this development will not affect its own ongoing projects, which it will continue to work on, including Rock Band DLC. At this time, neither company has released many specific details about what exactly is to come, only saying that they will create new musical journeys and gameplay for Fortnite.
"Music is already bringing millions of people together in Fortnite, from our emotes to global concerts and events,” added Alain Tascan, Epic Games VP of Game Development. “Together with the Harmonix team we will transform how players experience music, going from passive listeners to active participants.”
Immersive platforms like Wave and games like Fortnite and Roblox have already been working to create increasingly interactive experiences for fans and to provide opportunities for them to connect with artists in ways that wouldn’t be possible in person. If the previous success of Harmonix’s products is any indication, exciting things are coming for music fans in the metaverse.