Epic's Secret Star Wars-Marvel Game Delayed for AI-First Overhaul

Epic Games has postponed its unannounced Star Wars and Marvel crossover shooter, which had been targeted for a March release, as the company restructures the project around an AI-first production model. The delay signals a shift in how the studio intends to develop the game, with all artwork now set to be generated through AI workflows rather than traditional methods.

According to reports, Epic is encouraging developers on the project to use AI tools including Anthropic's Claude assistant as core components of the creative process. CEO Tim Sweeney has described Epic as undergoing a huge pivot towards AI acceleration, signalling that this approach extends beyond this single title.

The decision has caught many developers off guard. The sudden emphasis on AI-generated content and the corresponding delay suggest Epic is betting that integrating these tools early will ultimately speed up production and streamline asset creation, though the immediate effect has been to push back the game's timeline. The company has established a new internal release plan, though specifics remain unclear.

For a major publisher to commit publicly to an AI-first development strategy on a high-profile licensed project is unusual. How the shift affects the game's final form, and whether it influences the broader industry approach to AI in game development, will become clearer as more details emerge.

Source: IGN