Epic Games is adopting an "AI first" development strategy for its upcoming collaboration with The Walt Disney Company, a shift that has led to an indefinite delay of the project. Bloomberg reported that the Unreal Engine maker is moving away from traditional human coding in favor of AI-generated code and artwork for the game.
According to internal employee messages viewed by Bloomberg, human developers will now focus on managing and guiding the output of AI models, including Anthropic's Claude. The report described the new workflow as eliminating hand-written code and utilizing full AI processes for art assets.
The change affects a $1.5 billion partnership announced in early 2024 to create a Marvel- and Star Wars-themed shooter. Originally scheduled for a March 2027 release, the game has been pushed back indefinitely. Bloomberg attributed the delay to the AI-related shakeup, along with understaffing and slower-than-expected development progress.