Epic shifts to ‘AI-accelerated development’ for upcoming Disney game

Epic Games Embraces an "AI‑First" Approach for Its Disney Shooter

Epic Games has announced a major shift in how its upcoming, still‑unnamed Disney shooter will be built. Developers working on the project have been given an "AI‑first" mandate, directing them to lean heavily on artificial‑intelligence tools—most notably Anthropic’s Claude—for both code generation and art creation. The move comes as the game’s original March release window has been pushed back, prompting the studio to accelerate its development pipeline.

From Hand‑Written Code to AI‑Generated Assets

According to a Bloomberg report, one of the game’s directors communicated to staff that the team should stop writing code by hand. Instead, developers are expected to use AI to produce functional code snippets, scripts, and even gameplay logic. The same directive applies to visual assets: the entire art pipeline is slated to run through AI‑driven workflows, from concept sketches to final textures and character models.

Epic’s spokesperson Jake Jones confirmed the strategy, describing it as an "AI‑accelerated development" effort. The company’s CEO, Tim Sweeney, echoed this sentiment on social media, emphasizing that the goal is not merely to do the same work with fewer people, but to enable teams to "build MORE and BETTER stuff" using the capabilities of Unreal Engine combined with AI.

Why the Pivot Now?

The shift aligns with several broader trends in the industry. Epic has already experimented with AI in Fortnite, where Disney characters such as an AI‑generated Darth Vader have appeared. Moreover, other tech giants—including Meta and Google—have introduced their own AI‑powered game development tools, making AI integration an increasingly common practice.

Epic’s recent restructuring also provides context. Earlier this year the company laid off over a thousand employees amid a downturn in Fortnite engagement that began in 2025. By adopting AI tools, Epic appears to be seeking a way to maintain productivity and innovation while managing a leaner workforce.

Implications for the Disney Collaboration

The Disney shooter is part of a multi‑year partnership between Epic and Disney, which included a $1.5 billion investment in Epic back in 2024. The game is rumored to feature characters from Marvel and Star Wars, blending two of Disney’s most valuable franchises into a single shooter experience.

If the AI‑first approach proves successful, it could set a new standard for how large‑scale licensed games are produced, potentially reducing development timelines and costs. However, it also raises questions about creative control, asset originality, and the future role of human artists and programmers in game studios.

Looking Ahead

While the exact release date remains uncertain, the pivot to AI‑accelerated development signals Epic’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of what Unreal Engine can achieve. As the industry watches, the outcome of this experiment may influence not only Epic’s internal processes but also the broader conversation about AI’s place in creative production.

---

Epic Games and Disney have not responded to requests for comment beyond the statements cited above.