A video game bringing Marvel heroes and Star Wars characters together sounds like a dream for Disney fans, but the road to getting it made just got a lot bumpier.
A Delayed Disney Shooter
According to a new Bloomberg report, Epic Games has delayed an unannounced shooter featuring Marvel and Star Wars characters and instructed its developers to adopt an AI first production model. The game, developed in collaboration with Disney, had been scheduled for release in March but now has no new release date.
Why the delay? People familiar with development said progress had been slower than Epic anticipated, partly because the company underestimated how much time and staffing the project would require. The shooter has also been reported to be an extraction shooter similar to Arc Raiders.
What the AI Mandate Means
The bigger headline is how Epic plans to get the game back on track. One of the game’s directors reportedly told the team there would be no more handwritten code, wanting developers to edit and guide AI agents instead. The director also reportedly said all art should be produced with full AI workflows, and developers were told to use Anthropic’s Claude AI models.
Epic is standing behind the approach. Communications Director Jake Jones told Bloomberg that Epic’s developers would remain the creative forces driving the project while using AI to speed up production. Bloomberg described this as the first attempt by a major video game company to build a title using AI as the primary foundation of its development pipeline.
Not everyone inside the studio is on board. Many working on the Disney game reportedly responded to the surprise AI policies with confusion and shock, and staff questioned how errors in AI generated work would be handled and expressed doubt the initiative would succeed.
How This Fits Into the Disney and Epic Partnership
This game is one piece of a much larger relationship. In February 2024, Disney announced a $1.5 billion investment in Epic alongside plans for a connected games and entertainment universe featuring characters from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, Avatar, and more. The shooter is part of a three project, non Fortnite deal between the two companies.
Fans have already seen Disney and Epic experiment with AI before. Fortnite introduced an AI powered Darth Vader that relies on conversational AI and the licensed voice of the late James Earl Jones, created with the permission of Jones’ estate. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney has also made no secret of his enthusiasm for generative AI.
What Happens Next
For now, the Marvel and Star Wars crossover shooter remains unannounced by Epic Games, and there is no word on a new release window. Questions remain about how Epic will keep quality high, especially for franchises so closely tied to the artists who brought them to life.
We will keep you updated as more details about Disney’s gaming plans with Epic come to light. Would you play a Marvel and Star Wars shooter built with AI? Let us know in the comments!
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