Epic Games has reportedly directed the development team of an unannounced shooter featuring Marvel and Star Wars characters to adopt an "AI-first" production model, relying heavily on generated art and code. The game, a collaboration with Disney, was originally slated for a March release but has now been delayed indefinitely, according to a Bloomberg report citing individuals familiar with the project.
Sources indicate that the game's director informed developers that "no more hand-written code" would be used, with all art to be "generated with full AI workflows." The development team is allegedly being instructed to make greater use of tools such as Anthropic's Claude.
This directive aligns with Epic's broader commitment to generative AI, which is a central component of the upcoming Unreal Engine iteration. The company has already employed AI in various capacities, including the creation of concept art and character designs for Fortnite, and its use in voicing Darth Vader drew criticism from unions. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney has also voiced opposition to Steam's requirement for developers to disclose their use of generative AI, suggesting a strategy to attract AI-focused developers to the Epic Games Store.
The push for AI integration comes amid challenges for Epic Games, including a reported downturn in Fortnite engagement which led to over 1,000 layoffs earlier this year. The company's previous attempts to pivot Fortnite into a metaverse also did not yield the desired results.
Disney invested $1.5 billion in Epic earlier this year. While a previous Bloomberg report mentioned a Disney extraction shooter commissioned by Epic with a potential November launch, it is unclear if this is the same project facing indefinite delay.
Epic Games has not confirmed or denied the specific details of the report but provided a statement to Bloomberg, emphasizing "AI-accelerated development" led by Epic developers. Disney has not yet commented on the matter. Some Epic staff are reportedly joking about the AI's capabilities and hoping for a change of heart from management, while others suspect the "AI-first" mandate may be partly driven by investor expectations amid significant financial investment in the technology.