Epic Games has mandated a shift to an "AI-first" production model for its unannounced Marvel and Star Wars shooter, a major collaboration with Disney, according to recent reports. This directive includes the use of artificial intelligence for generating both code and artwork, with human developers transitioning to roles of supervision and refinement. The game, initially slated for a March 2027 release, has been delayed indefinitely as a result of this internal pivot and slower-than-anticipated progress.
The decision follows an internal message from one of the game's directors stating, "No more hand-written code," and that all art would be "generated with full AI workflows." Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney publicly confirmed a broader company-wide move towards AI acceleration, stating on social media that the goal is to empower developers to "build MORE and BETTER stuff" and extend these benefits to all teams utilizing Unreal Engine. Jake Jones, communications director at Epic Games, affirmed this direction, noting the company is "embracing AI-accelerated development, led by Epic developers who are the visionaries and creative drivers for everything we do."
This strategic change has reportedly caused some apprehension among Epic developers. Internal discussions included jokes about managing errors in AI-generated work and questions about whether AI tools like Claude should be tasked with correcting their own mistakes. Some employees expressed hope that the company might reconsider the initiative, questioning its potential success.
The collaboration with Disney stems from a $1.5 billion investment by Disney in Epic Games in 2024, which granted Disney an equity stake and established a multi-game partnership. This Marvel and Star Wars shooter was intended to be the first title from this partnership. Reports suggest that development on the game had already fallen behind schedule, partly due to Epic underestimating the required staffing and time, leading the company to now hope AI can help accelerate production.
Epic Games has previously advocated for the use of AI in game development, with CEO Tim Sweeney publicly endorsing the technology and announcing that Unreal Engine 6 would integrate AI tools to reduce tedious tasks. However, this marks the first instance of a major video game company attempting to build a title primarily with AI. The broader industry is closely observing Epic's shift, particularly given its role as a prominent Unreal Engine vendor, as studios consider similar workflows. The move raises questions regarding development velocity versus oversight and the actual cost reductions achieved by an "AI-first" pipeline once human review and rework are factored in.