Epic Games is reportedly pushing its upcoming Disney-themed game—featuring Marvel and Star Wars characters—into an 'AI-first' development model after underestimating the workforce needed to finish it on time. Originally slated for March, the project is now delayed, with leadership announcing 'no more hand-written code' and full AI workflow integration. Staff, still reeling from a March layoff of 1,000 employees, were reportedly stunned by the announcement, with many initially believing it was a joke.
A spokesperson confirmed the shift, stating, 'We’re embracing AI-accelerated development, led by Epic developers who are the visionaries and creative drivers for everything we do.' Disney has not commented, though its prior enthusiasm for AI in Disney+ suggests potential openness. The move signals a major pivot in game development strategy amid ongoing internal tension.
Source: Hacker News · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing