An unannounced Star Wars and Marvel shooter in development at Epic Games has been delayed indefinitely, shifting to an "AI first" approach to its production. Staff were informed of the change last week, according to a report by Bloomberg, pushing back the project from its previously unannounced March 2027 release.
The new directive mandates an "AI first" production model, incorporating tools like Anthropic's Claude, with art assets to be generated through "full AI workflows."
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney addressed the pivot on X, stating that the company is undergoing a "huge pivot" to "maximum AI acceleration." He clarified that the aim is not to reduce headcount but to enable developers to "build MORE and BETTER stuff" and extend these benefits to all teams utilizing Unreal Engine. Sweeney acknowledged that some audiences may desire a return to earlier development paradigms but emphasized the need to design for the current and future technological landscape. He expressed optimism about AI's potential to empower creators.
Regarding the company's broader objectives, Sweeney stated, "Our more modest aim is to survive the AI revolution, help other developers do the same, and come out on the other end making better code and content faster." He anticipates significant gains in development efficiency, projecting that by this time next year, most areas could see at least a threefold increase in efficiency compared to January 2026 levels. Sweeney also highlighted AI's potential to accelerate the time from initial idea to playtesting, which he believes will be a major benefit for game design, potentially mitigating issues seen in recent AAA failures that languished in development without sufficient playtesting.
This development follows Epic Games' layoff of over 1,000 employees in March, a decision attributed to declining console sales, ongoing legal disputes, and challenges in maintaining consistent seasonal content for Fortnite.
The prospect of an AI-driven Star Wars and Marvel shooter from Epic Games presents a notable intersection of popular culture and emerging technology. As noted in the report, the extensive use of AI in generating content for such widely recognized franchises could lead to an experiment that is, at the very least, fascinating to observe. The article observes that the visual styles associated with Fortnite, Star Wars, Marvel, and Pixar—all prominent in the cultural landscape—already bear resemblances that could make AI-generated content less immediately distinguishable. This aligns with Sweeney's comment about audiences wishing for a return to 2016, suggesting a tension between a desire for established creative norms and the rapid advancement of AI technology.
The tech industry often frames AI adoption as an inevitable progression that detractors must adapt to. Historically, new technologies, even those initially met with resistance, have become integrated into daily life. The article suggests that platforms developed by tech companies are adept at fostering user tolerance for new, sometimes unappealing, features, ultimately normalizing them. This pattern implies that user preference may be secondary to the industry's trajectory in adopting new technologies.