● Covered by 3 sources · 3 reportsMedium impact3 neutral
Epic Games Delays Disney Project for "AI-First" Development, Including AI-Generated Code and Art
Key points
- Epic Games delayed an upcoming Disney video game.
- The project will now use an "AI-first" development plan.
- AI models will generate all code and art assets.
- The Marvel- and Star Wars-themed shooter was slated for March 2027.
- The delay is indefinite, according to reports.
- Bloomberg reported the delay and AI pivot.
- A game director stated there will be no more handwritten code.
- Epic boss Tim Sweeney confirmed the AI acceleration pivot on X.
- Sweeney stated the aim is to build more and better stuff, not use fewer people.
- Sweeney previously criticized Valve for putting AI tags on games.
Epic Games Shifts to AI-First Development
Epic Games has reportedly delayed an upcoming video game developed in collaboration with Disney. Sources familiar with the project informed Bloomberg that the delay is due to a strategic pivot towards an "AI-first" production plan for the game.
This new development model dictates that AI models will be responsible for generating all code and art assets for the project. An internal message to the team stated, "No more hand-written code," and ordered all art to be "generated with full AI workflows."
Project Details and Delay
The game in question is a Marvel- and Star Wars-themed shooter, part of a $1.5 billion collaboration between Epic Games and Disney, which was announced in early 2024. The project was initially scheduled for release in March 2027.
The adoption of the "AI-first" approach has led to an indefinite delay for the game. Reports indicate that the project has also experienced understaffing and slower-than-expected development prior to this strategic shift.
Role of Human Developers
Under the new development strategy, human developers will be tasked with managing and guiding the code and art assets produced by AI models, such as Anthropic's Claude. This indicates a shift in the nature of developer involvement, focusing on oversight rather than direct creation of foundational elements.
Epic's Communications Director Jake Jones stated, "We're embracing AI-accelerated development, led by Epic developers who are the visionaries and creative drivers for everything we do."
Internal Reception and Company Direction
The reported shift to an "AI-first" approach was not universally well-received by developers, with some employees reportedly hoping the directive was not entirely serious. However, Epic Games has been integrating generative AI tools into its Unreal Engine platform throughout the current year, suggesting a broader company commitment to AI in development.
This decision follows Disney's $1.5 billion investment in Epic, further highlighting the strategic importance of this collaboration and the potential influence of AI in future projects.
Updates
- Bloomberg reported the delay and AI pivot.
- A game director stated there will be no more handwritten code.
- Epic boss Tim Sweeney confirmed the AI acceleration pivot on X.
- Sweeney stated the aim is to build more and better stuff, not use fewer people.
- Sweeney previously criticized Valve for putting AI tags on games.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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How outlets covered it
Epic Games has delayed a Disney-themed shooter game, originally set for a March 2027 release, and instructed developers to adopt an "AI first" production model. This shift involves using AI for code generation and art workflows, aiming to accelerate development and increase output across Epic's projects.
Epic Games is reportedly shifting to an "AI first" development model for its collaboration with Disney, using AI models to generate code and art assets for an upcoming shooter. This strategic pivot has led to an indefinite delay for the Marvel and Star Wars-themed game, originally planned for a March 2027 release.
Epic Games has reportedly delayed an upcoming Disney game to adopt an "AI-first" production plan, including AI-generated art and code. This decision follows Disney's $1.5 billion investment in Epic and reflects Epic's broader push for generative AI tools in Unreal Engine.