Epic Games is fundamentally rethinking how it builds games, shifting to an "AI first" development strategy for its massive collaboration with the Walt Disney Company. According to a Bloomberg report, AI models will write all the code and guide all the artwork for an upcoming shooter set in a combined Marvel and Star Wars universe.
The shift represents a dramatic departure from traditional game development, where human developers write code by hand and artists create assets manually. Epic's new approach essentially delegates creative and technical execution to AI systems, with human staff moving into supervisory and direction roles.
The project, first announced in 2024, has been delayed multiple times. The AI-first pivot appears to be both a cost-cutting measure and a bet on the future of game development. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney has been vocal about AI's potential to transform creative industries.
The gaming industry is watching closely. If Epic's experiment succeeds, it could reshape how AAA games are built — potentially reducing development teams while increasing output. If it fails, it will provide a cautionary tale about the limits of AI in creative work.
The move also raises questions about labor in the games industry, where studios have faced criticism for crunch culture. Replacing human developers with AI could address working conditions concerns while creating new ones around job displacement and creative authorship.
