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Epic Games Delays Marvel and Star Wars Shooter Amid AI-First Production Push
ReEpic Games Delays Marvel and Star Wars Shooter Amid AI-First Production Push
Epic Games has reportedly delayed an unannounced crossover shooter featuring Marvel and Star Wars characters as the company pivots toward an AI-first development model, according to Bloomberg. The game, part of Epic's $1.5 billion partnership with Disney, was originally slated for a March 2027 release and is now without a date.
Epic Games has reportedly delayed an unannounced shooter featuring Marvel and Star Wars characters, as the Fortnite maker pushes its developers toward an AI-first production model. The project, part of Epic's expanding collaboration with Disney, was originally slated for a March 2027 release and is now without a launch date, according to Bloomberg.
The reported delay comes as Epic leadership signals a sweeping shift in how the company approaches game development. An internal memo obtained by Bloomberg directed developers to adopt an «AI first» workflow, instructing «No more hand-written code» and stating that artwork would be «generated with full AI workflows.» The directive reportedly encouraged the use of AI tools such as Claude to complete production on the game.
Epic Games did not confirm the existence of the Disney-themed shooter, but communications director Jake Jones offered a statement to Bloomberg: «We're embracing AI-accelerated development, led by Epic developers who are the visionaries and creative drivers for everything we do.» The statement frames AI as a tool guided by human developers rather than a replacement for them.
The pivot was amplified by CEO Tim Sweeney, who posted on social media shortly before Bloomberg's report went live about a «huge pivot» toward «maximum AI acceleration» for game development. Sweeney said the move would benefit «all teams using Unreal,» the engine that powers Fortnite and countless other titles. In subsequent posts, he described Epic's «modest aim» as surviving the AI revolution, helping other developers do the same, and emerging with better code and content produced faster.
The AI-focused strategy appears to be a central component of Epic's partnership with Disney. AI consultant and «Metaverse artist» Lachlan Phillips, who directed four Disney experiences for Fortnite, said on social media that he advocated for an «AI-heavy workflow across coding and art.» His comments suggest the approach extends beyond a single project and into the broader collaboration between the two companies.
Disney has invested $1.5 billion in Epic Games and Fortnite, and the two companies are working on multiple gaming projects together. An earlier report in 2026 claimed that one of those projects was an extraction shooter starring Disney characters, though it remains unclear whether that title is the same as the Marvel and Star Wars shooter Bloomberg described. Disney has not publicly detailed the full slate of games in development.
Gaming has become a key priority for Disney under CEO Josh D'Amaro, who took the top executive position earlier in 2026. «Interactive platforms are an increasingly relevant medium for younger audiences to engage with characters and stories, and our collaboration with Epic Games is central to our efforts in this space,» D'Amaro said in May. «Our characters are among the most popular across the Fortnite universe.»
Despite speculation that Disney might seek to acquire Epic Games outright, Disney executive Dana Walden said such talks were «not the conversations we're having right now,» adding that the two companies have «a great partnership.» The comments suggest the relationship will continue as a collaboration rather than a merger, at least for now.
The reported delay and the AI-first directive have drawn attention across the gaming industry, where studios are grappling with rising production costs, shifting player expectations, and the growing role of artificial intelligence in creative work. For Epic, the stakes are particularly high: the company's Unreal Engine powers a large share of the industry, and its approach to AI could influence how other developers build and ship games in the years ahead.
Neither Epic nor Disney has announced a new release window for the Marvel and Star Wars shooter. The project remains officially unconfirmed, and it is unclear how the AI-first workflow will affect its final form or timeline.
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