Epic Games delays Disney game and tells developers to go "AI first" - GamesIndustry.biz

Epic Games has delayed a major Disney-partnered shooter game and mandated an 'AI-first' development approach for its staff. The directive includes using AI tools for code and art generation, causing internal friction.
Why it matters
This marks a significant industry shift as a major developer attempts to replace traditional workflows with generative AI, raising questions about labor and creative quality.
The shooter featuring Marvel and Star Wars characters had been slated for March
According to Bloomberg , the game had been slated for March, but no new release date has been confirmed.
People familiar with the project told the site that developers were asked to build the game with AI tools, including Anthropic's Claude, with staff overseeing the output.
In an internal message seen by Bloomberg, one of the game's directors told staff: "No more hand-written code." The director also said all of the game's art would be "generated with full AI workflows."
In a statement to Bloomberg, Epic communications director Jake Jones said the company is "embracing AI-accelerated development, led by Epic developers who are the visionaries and creative drivers for everything we do." Disney did not immediately respond to the outlet's request for comment.
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