Epic Games Reportedly Pivoting to "AI First" Game Development
Epic Games is reportedly shifting to an "AI first" development strategy for its collaboration with Walt Disney Company. AI models are expected to write all code and guide artwork for an upcoming shooter, according to a Bloomberg report.
Epic Games is reportedly adopting an "AI first" development strategy for its collaboration with Walt Disney Company, intending to utilize AI models for code generation and artwork direction in an upcoming shooter. The shift was detailed in a Bloomberg report citing unnamed sources familiar with the project.
Under the new approach, human developers will primarily manage and guide assets generated by AI systems, such as Anthropic's Claude. This signifies a move away from traditional hand-written code and fully AI-driven art workflows, as suggested by internal Epic employee communications viewed by Bloomberg.
The $1.5 billion partnership between Epic and Disney, announced in early 2024, aimed to release a Marvel and Star Wars-themed shooter by March 2027. However, the project has reportedly been indefinitely delayed due to this AI-centric pivot and development challenges.
This strategic reorientation occurs amid broader industry trends exploring AI's potential in creative fields, aiming to streamline game production pipelines and explore new development paradigms.