Epic Games is reportedly making generative artificial intelligence central to production on an unannounced Disney shooter featuring characters from Marvel and Star Wars. Developers working on the project have been instructed to incorporate AI into their workflows, including the creation of game artwork.
The team has reportedly been asked to follow an “AI-first” development model using Anthropic’s Claude systems. That direction extends to programming, with staff told to move away from additional hand-written code. Artists have also been directed to use complete AI-based workflows for the project’s visual work.
Epic communications director Jake Jones described the approach as AI-assisted development led by the company’s developers, who remain responsible for the project’s creative direction.
Developers reportedly caught off guard
Epic chief executive Tim Sweeney has openly supported generative AI and has criticised digital storefront policies that require developers to disclose AI use on game store pages. However, staff working on the Disney title reportedly reacted with confusion and shock after the company introduced its latest AI policies.
Questions remain about the safeguards around AI-generated work, including how errors will be corrected and how low-quality output can be prevented from reaching the finished game. Those concerns are especially significant for a licensed project drawing on two of Disney’s most recognisable fictional universes.
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Disney shooter pushed beyond its reported 2027 target
The shooter was reportedly planned for release in March 2027, but development has now been delayed. Slow progress and understaffed teams are cited as reasons for the setback.
The delay comes despite Disney investing $1.5 billion in 2024 for collaborations that include this project. Epic, the company behind Fortnite, also laid off 1,000 employees earlier in the year while dealing with difficulties affecting its battle royale business and the costs of ongoing antitrust litigation.
For arcade operators and home collectors, the episode highlights how production choices made far upstream can influence the games that eventually reach cabinets, exhibitions and living rooms. Our arcade industry videos section tracks more developments across interactive entertainment.
AI is already spreading through hobbyist projects
Generative AI has also been making an impact in modding and homebrew communities. Recent improvements in models such as Claude Opus 5.5 have contributed to a surge of “vibe-coded” projects, including efforts involving PlayStation 5 jailbreaking and browser-based versions of well-known classic games.
Even so, no major game company has yet made generative AI the foundation of a development pipeline on this scale. Previous proposals that came close to such an approach have faced intense backlash from players online.
That makes Epic’s reported production model a significant test. Its outcome may shape the wider conversation about authorship, quality control and the role of human developers in large-scale game creation—issues that also matter when choosing hardware and software for a home arcade setup. RETROCADE’s arcade machine buying guide offers practical advice for planning that setup, while arcade machines provide options for different spaces and styles.
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