Epic Games is changing how its developers build games, and CEO Tim Sweeney is not backing down from the company’s growing reliance on artificial intelligence. The shift comes as an upcoming Disney shooter featuring Marvel and Star Wars characters has reportedly been delayed.
According to a Bloomberg report, developers working on Epic Games’ delayed Marvel and Star Wars shooter have been told to make major changes to how they build the game. One director reportedly instructed staff that there would be “No more hand-written code” and that all game artwork should be “generated with full AI workflows.”
The instructions come as Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney confirms a wider company push toward AI-powered development, raising questions about what this means for the studio’s future games and the people making them.
The project, previously expected in March 2027, currently has no confirmed replacement release date. Human developers would still oversee and guide the work, but the reported instructions represent a significant departure from traditional game development.
Tim Sweeney Defends Epic’s AI Push
Following the report, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney addressed the company’s direction in an October 12 post on X.
“We have a huge pivot underway here at Epic, moving developers around to retool for maximum AI acceleration.”
Sweeney explained that Epic’s goal was not simply to produce the same work with fewer employees. Instead, he argued that the technology would allow developers to create more content, improve productivity, and eventually bring those advantages to other teams using Unreal Engine.
His comments indicate that increased investment in AI is a broader company strategy rather than an isolated decision affecting one Disney project.
Players Question the Decision
The news has drawn criticism from players concerned about the quality of future games. Online discussions have questioned whether AI-generated code could introduce additional bugs, performance problems, and other issues.
Others have criticized the idea of relying heavily on AI-generated artwork for a project involving two of Disney’s biggest franchises. The potential effect on developers’ jobs is another concern.
In March 2026, Epic Games laid off more than 1,000 employees amid declining Fortnite engagement. Although Sweeney has argued that the company’s AI strategy is intended to improve productivity rather than simply replace workers, the timing has fueled questions about Epic’s priorities.
The Disney Shooter Is Already Behind Schedule
The development changes follow reported problems with the Disney project’s production schedule. According to Bloomberg, Epic underestimated both the number of developers needed and the time required to complete the game.
The shooter was previously expected in March 2027, but the team has reportedly received no replacement release date. That leaves an important question: if the project is already struggling with deadlines and staffing, will switching to AI-generated code and artwork help get it finished?
AI-assisted coding can speed up certain tasks, but producing a multiplayer shooter still requires testing, balancing, debugging, and integration. Epic has not publicly demonstrated that its new workflow will resolve the project’s existing development problems.
What Does This Mean for Fortnite?
For now, there is no confirmation that Epic intends to eliminate handwritten code across every Fortnite development team. However, Sweeney’s description of a company-wide push suggests AI tools will play an increasingly important role in Epic’s future projects.
Epic has already introduced AI-powered conversations for NPCs in Fortnite creator islands, allowing developers to build characters that respond dynamically to players.
Whether these tools lead to better games remains to be seen. Epic Games has spent years expanding Fortnite beyond battle royale into a platform for different games and experiences. Its partnership with Disney is a major part of those ambitions.
But players ultimately judge games by how well they play, not how quickly their code or artwork was produced. With the Disney shooter delayed and Epic doubling down on AI, the company still has to prove its approach can deliver a finished game worth playing.
