Epic Games Delays Disney Shooter to Focus on AI-Driven Workflows
Epic Games has reportedly delayed its upcoming Disney-franchise shooter to retool development around an aggressive AI-first production model.
Radwan AbdulhadiEditor and technology writer
Disney Shooter Delayed for Major AI Shift
Epic Games has reportedly delayed an upcoming shooter title based on Disney’s Marvel and Star Wars franchises, pushing back its expected release date as part of a significant operational shift. According to a report by Bloomberg via [Tom's Hardware](https://www.tomshardware.com/video-games/pc-gaming/epic-games-reportedly-delays-disney-shooter-title-so-it-can-pivot-to-ai-coding-staff-allegedly-told-no-more-handwritten-code-with-art-generated-with-full-ai-workflows), the unannounced game was originally slated for a March 2027 release before its launch window was moved to an unspecified date.
The delayed title was intended to be the first in a broader series of games utilizing Disney intellectual property. In 2024, Disney invested $1.5 billion in Epic Games and publisher operations. Reports indicate that progress on the project faced headwinds due to staffing constraints required to keep the development schedule on track, leading leadership to push for artificial intelligence integration to make up for lost time.
Directives for 'AI First' Production
Alongside the project delay, staff working on the title were reportedly directed to transition to an "AI first" production model. Sources stated that project leadership informed employees there would be "no more handwritten code" and that game assets and art would be generated using full artificial intelligence workflows.
The announcement reportedly left many developers on the team surprised and uncertain about the directive. While some expressed hope that the policy shift might not be permanent, others questioned how automated coding tools would handle debugging and error correction.
Executive Confirmation and Leadership Stance
Epic Games founder and CEO Tim Sweeney appeared to confirm the corporate strategy shift through a public update on social media. He stated that the company is undergoing a major internal pivot to retool development teams for maximum artificial intelligence acceleration.
"The aim isn’t to do the same stuff with fewer people, but to enable everyone here to build MORE and BETTER stuff, and to bring the benefits to all teams using Unreal," Sweeney explained on the platform. Epic communications director Jake Jones also emphasized that the company is embracing AI-accelerated development driven by its internal creative visionaries.
Sweeney has previously [criticized Steam for putting AI tags on games](https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/artificial-intelligence/epic-boss-tim-sweeney-blasts-steam-for-putting-ai-tags-on-games-says-move-is-irresponsible-of-valve), describing Valve's policy as irresponsible while arguing that artificial intelligence serves as a practical tool for repetitive and mundane development tasks like error-checking and 3D rigging.
Broader Industry Reception to AI Workflows
The pivot at Epic Games arrives amid a wider debate across the video game industry regarding the integration of generative AI tools. While some developers and independent creators have experimented with AI-assisted coding and asset generation, others face significant pushback.
Concerns surrounding copyright, job security, and creative authenticity have led various industry bodies and conventions to push back against heavily automated projects. Despite the controversy, major publishing houses continue to explore automated workflows in an effort to shorten production timelines and scale up development output.
Sources
- Tom's HardwareEpic Games reportedly delays Disney shooter title so it can pivot to AI coding
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