Epic Games is making AI a central part of development on an upcoming Disney game, according to a report from Bloomberg. The unannounced shooter has reportedly been delayed from its original March release window, and developers have been told to rely more heavily on AI tools as they work to complete it.
An AI-first process for code and art
Bloomberg reported that developers were given an “AI-first” mandate, including direction to use tools such as Anthropic’s Claude. One of the game’s directors reportedly wrote to staff, “No more hand-written code.”
The reported instructions extend beyond programming. Staff were told that all of the game’s art will be “generated with full AI workflows.” Together, those directions point to AI being used across multiple parts of production rather than for a single supporting task.
Epic spokesperson Jake Jones described the company’s approach to Bloomberg as “embracing AI-accelerated development.” Epic Games and Disney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A Disney shooter still under wraps
The game has not been announced publicly. It is reportedly a shooter featuring characters from Marvel and Star Wars, and is part of a multiyear collaboration between Epic and Disney.
Disney invested $1.5 billion in Epic in 2024. The report does not give a new release date for the game, leaving the scale of the delay beyond its original March window unclear.
Epic already uses AI in Fortnite, which has featured Disney characters, including an AI Darth Vader. The reported plans for the new game suggest a broader production role for AI, with both code and art in scope.
Part of a wider push toward AI tools
Epic is not the only large company developing AI tools for games. Meta and Google have also introduced tools in this area, according to the report. That wider activity gives context to Epic’s decision to direct developers toward AI, though the specific workflow described for this game is unusually expansive.
Epic CEO Tim Sweeney has argued that Steam should drop its “made with AI” tag, saying that “AI will be involved in nearly all future production.” The reported mandate for the Disney game aligns with that view of AI becoming common throughout production.
What the report leaves open
The report describes strong instructions to use AI, but it does not explain how the resulting code or artwork will be reviewed, or how much of the finished game will come directly from these tools. It also does not identify a revised launch window.
Those unanswered questions matter because an AI-first process can describe a direction without showing its final results. For now, the reporting establishes that Epic has instructed developers to use AI more in making this game, while the title itself and its eventual release remain unannounced.
The shift comes after Epic laid off over 1,000 of its employees, following a “downturn” in engagement on Fortnite since 2025. The report does not say that the layoffs caused the AI mandate, so the two developments provide separate context for the company’s current direction.