Soon, Disney+ subscribers could see some major changes to the way they experience the platform. According to Disney CEO Bob Iger, AI and gaming-inspired innovations are set to play a central role in shaping the future of the streaming service.
During Disney’s most recent earnings call, Iger described AI as a “huge opportunity” for Disney+ and a potential bridge between the company’s many entertainment and lifestyle divisions – from movies and merchandise to parks and cruises.
“Obviously, there is a huge opportunity for games, and our investment with Epic Games, well, that will largely be an opportunity to integrate game-like features into Disney+,” Iger said.
Last year, Disney invested $1.5 billion for an equity stake in Fortnite developer Epic Games, a move that signaled a growing interest in interactive entertainment. Now, Iger’s comments suggest that investment could soon manifest directly within the streaming service – potentially bringing game-inspired functions, interactive storytelling, or even virtual events to Disney+.
The integration would also position Disney+ in closer competition with Netflix, which has recently expanded into gaming as part of its own long-term growth strategy.
Beyond gaming, Iger also outlined Disney’s plans to expand into the user-generated content (UGC) space. The company’s recent partnership with pocket.watch will allow subscribers to both create and share short-form content within the Disney+ ecosystem.
“It provides users of Disney+ with a much more engaged experience, including the ability for them to create UGC and to consume mostly short-form UGC from others,” Iger explained.
According to Iger, AI will be the driving force behind many of these new features. He described the technology as key to transforming Disney+ into “a portal to all things Disney,” one that could eventually connect users not only to digital content but also to real-world experiences such as merchandise, theme park bookings, hotel stays, and cruise vacations.
In his recent letter to shareholders, Iger identified three main areas of AI focus for Disney: streaming technology, content creation (particularly post-production), and streamlining operations across theme parks.