Epic Games reportedly pivots to AI-first development for Disney collaboration
Epic Games reportedly pivoting to "AI first" game development model
- Who
- Epic Games
- What
- shifted development strategy for its Disney collaboration to AI-first, delaying the planned shooter indefinitely
- Quote
Epic Games is shifting to an “AI first” development strategy for its collaboration with the Walt Disney Company, letting AI models write all the code and guide all the artwork for an upcoming shooter.
What happened
Epic Games is reportedly shifting its Disney collaboration to AI-first development, with models writing all code and guiding artwork for an upcoming shooter, according to Bloomberg’s unnamed sources and internal employee messages. Human developers would manage generated assets using models such as Anthropic’s Claude; the $1.5 billion project’s shooter, slated for March 2027, has reportedly been delayed indefinitely amid the shift and understaffed, slower-than-expected development. Epic confirmed it is embracing AI-accelerated development, while CEO Tim Sweeney said the aim is to help employees build more and better work.
Reported by 2 sources
The story so far
Epic Games is reportedly moving its Disney game to AI-first development, while the planned shooter has been delayed indefinitely from its March 2027 release window, according to Ars Technica’s account of Bloomberg’s unnamed sources and internal employee messages. Epic confirmed that it is embracing AI-accelerated development; the mandate’s scope and the indefinite delay remain claims from those sources. The Verge, also citing Bloomberg, reported that developers were instructed to use tools such as Anthropic’s Claude, write no code by hand and generate art through full AI workflows. Ars Technica described human developers managing generated assets and reported that work on the $1.5 billion Disney collaboration had been understaffed and progressed more slowly than expected. Epic spokesperson Jake Jones confirmed the company’s adoption of AI-accelerated development to Bloomberg, while CEO Tim Sweeney said the aim was to help employees produce more and better work.
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