Epic Games shifts Disney video game project to AI-driven development

Epic Games has postponed its planned shooter game featuring Disney, Marvel, and Star Wars characters to completely overhaul how it builds software. As Bloomberg first reported, the company is pivoting to an artificial intelligence first strategy, relying on software like Anthropic's Claude to produce game code and artwork while human staff supervise.

The pivot highlights how major studios are turning to automation to curb rising costs and long development timelines. Although Epic framed the move as a way to empower human creators, Bloomberg reported that several internal developers voiced skepticism during a recent team call. Their doubt reflects broader pushback across the gaming world, where critics argue that automated tools risk degrading artistic quality.

Disney poured 1.5 billion dollars into Epic in 2024, making this delayed title a critical test for automated game creation. If a blockbuster built without traditional handwritten code works smoothly, it could transform how interactive entertainment is produced moving forward. Yet it remains uncertain whether audiences will embrace games reliant on synthetic graphics, or if unexpected software bugs will delay the title even further.