Kobe Bryant’s Epic Games investment bets big on Unreal Engine
For Kobe Bryant and his investment partner, Fortnite is just part of the bigger picture.
Bryant Stibel — the investment firm co-founded by former NBA superstar Kobe Bryant — banked on Epic Games in 2018 not just because of Fortnite’s surging popularity.
This fact came to light during a recent interview with CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street” segment, which featured Bryant and his investment partner, Jeff Stibel.
Stibel, responding to a question about growing global interest in esports, shared how the goal of investing in Epic Games is not so much about Fortnite only as it is for the Unreal Engine.
“Gaming is critically important to the cultural ethos [of youths],” Stibel said. “However, it’s not just about the games that we’re investing in. Frankly, [for us], the investment is all about the platforms.”
Stibel went on to talk about how the Epic Games’ visual engine had built — and continues to build — hundreds of games. He also noted how the platform even provides support to businesses outside of gaming.
“What we’re really looking for are the fundamentals behind what everyone is seeing on the consumer side,” Stibel added.
If anything, this reinforces how Bryant Stibel investments in the video game industry are very much focused on critical platforms designed to grow the gaming ecosystem and improve user experiences.
Watch the full interview below, or skip to the 4:16 mark to hear Bryant Stibel’s position on their gaming investment ventures:
