Epic postpones Disney game and opts for more AI
The developer is said to have instructed staff to use AI more explicitly for coding and visual production.
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Epic Games has postponed the release of an as-yet unannounced Disney game and is steering the project towards a production process in which AI plays a greater role. Bloomberg and Ars Technica report this based on sources and a statement from Epic.
It concerns a shooter that forms part of the partnership between Epic and Disney. According to the reports, the game would feature characters from Marvel and Star Wars and was initially scheduled for March 2027. No new release date has been announced.
According to Bloomberg, developers were instructed to use AI more explicitly when writing code and creating visual material. Internal communications are said to have referred to a so-called AI-first approach. Ars Technica writes that human staff must guide and assess the results produced by models.
Epic did not confirm all the details from the internal communications to Bloomberg, but said the company embraces development in which AI accelerates the work and that developers retain creative control. Epic is therefore presenting the shift as an additional tool for creators, not as a complete replacement for human staff.
According to people familiar with the project, the delay is partly due to the time and staffing required having been underestimated. Epic has not explained that information in detail. It is also not known how many employees are directly involved in the project or which jobs will be affected by the new approach.
The move is commercially relevant because it concerns a major entertainment project involving two well-known brands. AI can help developers with repetitive tasks and with producing quick versions of code or illustrations, but at the same time raises questions about copyright, quality control, security and who is responsible when generated components contain errors.
The games industry already uses AI for such things as research, coding tools and experiments with visuals. The Epic case stands out because the technology is described not merely as a separate tool, but as the starting point for a major project whose development has been delayed. As long as the game has not been announced and the internal instructions have not been made fully public, it remains unclear how far that shift goes in practice.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Epic has postponed the release of a Disney collaboration project.
- Epic has confirmed a broader AI-accelerated development direction.
- Details about the internal production instructions come partly from anonymous sources.
- The game has no new public release date.
Left
Arguments Emphasises protecting creative labour, transparency about AI use and collective agreements on copyright and employment. AI may be supportive, but must not silently erode human creators and their negotiating position.
Values Job security, cultural diversity, employee representation and fair compensation.
Consequences Greater disclosure and human control may make projects more expensive, but reduce risks for creators, consumers and rights holders.
Centre
Arguments Sees AI as a useful production tool as long as human developers remain ultimately responsible and companies make clear where the technology is being used. The key test is whether quality, safety and rights are adequately protected.
Values Practical innovation, proportionality, responsibility and predictable rules.
Consequences A controlled introduction can deliver efficiency without completely relinquishing creative control, but requires measurable quality standards and oversight.
Right
Arguments Emphasises that companies should be given room to use new technology and remain competitive. If consumers do not like the results, they can make that clear through their market choices.
Values Entrepreneurship, innovation, competition and limited government intervention.
Consequences Rapid adoption can reduce costs and enable new products, but may also lead to a loss of expertise and uncertainty about liability.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The text attributes the non-public internal details to reporting based on sources and distinguishes them from Epic’s own statement. No unconfirmed statements have been presented as established fact.
- confirmed Epic has postponed the Disney game. — This was reported by Bloomberg and picked up by multiple public trade media outlets. source
- confirmed Epic wants to make greater use of AI in development. — Epic confirmed the broader AI-accelerated development direction to Bloomberg. source
- uncertain The game would feature Marvel and Star Wars characters. — This comes from reporting based on anonymous sources; Epic has not officially announced the game. source
- confirmed No new release date has been announced. — The public reporting does not name a replacement date. source
- uncertain According to sources, the delay is partly connected to the time and staffing having been underestimated. — This explanation comes from anonymous sources and has not been confirmed in detail by Epic. source
Editor's note
The delay and the broader AI direction have been reported by multiple public sources. Details about the internal instructions, staffing implications and the precise content of the game remain based on anonymous sources.Sources
- Epic Games delays Disney game and tells developers to go “AI first” — GameDev.net, met verwijzing naar GamesIndustry.biz
- Report: Epic Games goes all-in on AI for Disney collaboration — Ars Technica
- Epic Games Delays Disney Project, Asks Developers to Use More AI — Yahoo Finance, Bloomberg
More on this in Dutch media
- Trouw — „epic games”
- NU.nl — „epic games”
- De Telegraaf — „epic games”