Epic reportedly delays its Disney video game so it can be made using more AI
Developing story first seen 5 hours ago
Epic Games has reportedly delayed its upcoming Disney game again, with Bloomberg saying the project is now being directed to use more generative AI in its production. A director’s internal message called for an “AI first” plan, with no hand-written code and all artwork made through AI workflows; the change matters because it could reshape how the game is made and has reportedly unsettled some developers.
The game was reportedly first due in November, then moved to March before the new AI directive. It is rumoured to be an extraction shooter, while Disney’s $1.5 billion investment in Epic in 2024 was intended to support a broader games and entertainment universe. Epic says its developers will lead AI-accelerated development; meanwhile, a GDC survey found 52 per cent of developers viewed generative AI as bad for the industry, up from 30 per cent in 2025.
- Epic’s Disney game is reportedly being delayed again.
- The production plan calls for AI-generated art and no hand-written code.
- The reported shift comes amid growing developer concerns about AI.
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Epic Games is a video game developer best known for Fortnite and for creating Unreal Engine, a platform used to build many popular games. Disney is the entertainment company behind Marvel, Star Wars, and numerous other well-known franchises. In 2024, the two companies announced a partnership with Disney investing $1.5 billion to create games together.
Epic has now delayed the video game from November to March so it can shift to a development approach centred on artificial intelligence. Rather than developers writing code by hand, the game will be created using AI tools that generate code and artwork. This represents a significant change in how the project will be developed.
The decision reflects broader disagreement within the gaming industry about the use of AI. Whilst some companies view AI as a way to develop games faster, many game developers worry it could harm the industry and their employment prospects. This high-profile partnership could influence how other major entertainment companies approach AI in game development.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Proponents of the AI-first approach argue that generative tools offer significant productivity gains, enabling Epic to deliver results faster with more efficient resource allocation. They contend that automating routine asset creation and code generation frees human developers to focus on high-level creative direction, gameplay design, and storytelling—the work that truly requires human imagination. In this view, embracing such tools represents natural technological evolution that could help address industry talent shortages whilst reducing production costs.
The case against
Sceptics counter that aggressive AI integration risks compromising the artistic integrity and qualitative polish expected of a major Disney-partnered title, particularly as over half the industry sees AI as detrimental to gaming. They argue that hand-crafted work, created by skilled human artists and programmers, carries irreplaceable value in interactive entertainment, and that the push towards an 'AI first' approach prioritises speed and cost-cutting over creative excellence. Beyond the product itself, they express concern about job displacement within development teams, questioning whether short-term efficiency gains justify longer-term human and artistic costs.