Shares of Funko (FNKO) are rising in pre-market trading after the company announced earlier a new partnership with Epic Games to create a range of Fortnite toys and collectibles.

Launching Holiday 2018, the collection will be available for purchase at a broad array of retailers worldwide. "We are thrilled to collaborate and partner with Epic Games to create the inaugural Fortnite product collection and to bring these characters to life for the first time. This collection will be a true celebration of Fortnite's incredible popularity and cultural significance, and we believe our Funko Fortnite collectibles will strongly resonate with fans of the game. We look forward to expanding this collection and combining our leading product capabilities with our strong retail platform," said Brian Mariotti, CEO of Funko.

Epic Games, the maker of Fortnite, is 40% owned by Tencent (TCEHY) and is part of Disney's (DIS) Accelerator Program.

In pre-market trading, Funko has risen $1.45, or 9%, to $17.05 per share.