Epic Games pushes AI-only development, pushes back Disney shooter launch

Epic Games confirmed that its upcoming Disney-licensed shooter, originally slated for a March launch, will be postponed indefinitely after the project lagged behind its planned timeline. An internal communication revealed that the company is mandating a shift to fully AI-generated code and artwork, directing developers to rely on Anthropic’s Claude while humans oversee the output. Communications director Jake Jones described the change as an AI-accelerated development strategy.

The decision surprised many team members, who questioned how AI-produced errors would be handled and doubted the approach’s success. Disney, which invested $1.5 billion in Epic in 2024, had partnered with the Fortnite maker for this title, and Epic has already reduced its workforce by 1,000 positions earlier this year. Industry surveys show mixed sentiment toward generative AI, with over half of developers viewing it as harmful.