Epic Games delays its Star Wars/Marvel first-person shooter, shifting to AI-first development as Disney's partnership deepens.
Epic delays Star Wars/Marvel game
Epic Games has reportedly delayed the release of a first-person shooter game that combines the universes of Star Wars and Marvel. Originally scheduled for March 2027, the project has been postponed to align with a new internal launch calendar.AI tools encouraged for development
Developers working on the game have been encouraged to use AI tools such as Claude, an AI assistant from Anthropic, while ensuring human oversight at the end of the process. One project manager reportedly said, "Manual coding is over," and that all visual elements should be generated through AI-based processes.Project faces delays due to complexity
The report suggests that Epic underestimated the time and resources required for the Star Wars X Marvel game. Progress has been slower than expected, causing the project to fall behind schedule. The release date and platforms remain unknown.Epic embraces AI-accelerated development
Jake Jones, Epic’s director of communications, told Bloomberg that the company is now using AI-accelerated development. He emphasized that Epic’s developers are the creative force behind the company’s initiatives.Developers react to AI shift
The shift toward AI-driven development has left many of Epic’s developers "stunned." This follows a previous report that indicated Epic was working on a first-person shooter with Disney characters, similar to Arc Raiders by Embark Studios.Epic reorganizes for AI integration
Tim Sweeney, Epic’s CEO, announced a "major shift" within the company, stating that development teams are being reorganized to integrate AI into daily work. His goal is to enable developers to create more and better content, not just reduce staff.Disney investment strengthens partnership
In 2024, Disney acquired a $1.5 billion stake in Epic Games, reinforcing their partnership. While Fortnite continues to feature crossovers with Disney characters, the full scope of their collaboration remains unclear. Disney has also denied rumors of acquiring the studio.