Epic Games has postponed the release of a Disney game and has advised developers to prioritize an "AI first" approach

Epic Games has postponed its collaboration project with Disney—a shooter set to include Marvel and Star Wars characters—and has advised developers to transition to a production approach prioritizing artificial intelligence.

The launch, initially anticipated for March, remains without a revised date, according to Bloomberg.

Insiders have disclosed to the publication that the use of AI tools, like Anthropic's Claude, has been mandated for the creation of the game, with oversight provided by the development team.

An internal communication reviewed by Bloomberg highlights that one director informed staff that coding would no longer be done manually. Instead, all artistic elements of the game will rely on comprehensive AI processes.

Epic's communications director, Jake Jones, explained to Bloomberg that the company is adopting a strategy of AI-enhanced development, driven by the vision and creativity of Epic's developers. Disney has not yet issued a statement regarding the matter.

The shift in development strategy was communicated to the team in a video call last week. According to Bloomberg's sources, the news left some developers surprised.

It was further noted by the sources that the project was lagging due to Epic's inaccurate assessment of the resources and timeline required. Bloomberg reported that Epic had already been advocating for AI utilization within its various departments, noting that no other leading game company has previously aimed to develop a game predominantly using AI.

In 2024, Disney invested $1.5 billion in Epic, obtaining a share in the company. The two announced a partnership for several games, with this shooter being the initial release. Earlier this year, Epic announced the layoff of over 1,000 employees, citing a decline in Fortnite's user engagement as a contributing factor.

A survey conducted during the 2026 GDC revealed that more than a third of game developers incorporate AI in their roles, while over half believe AI could negatively impact the industry.

Earlier today, it was reported that Yuji Horii, known for creating Dragon Quest, released a game created with AI technology in about 30 minutes.