Unreal Engine and Fortnite maker Epic Games reportedly delayed an unannounced shooter featuring Marvel and Star Wars characters, and it's said that Epic is pushing its developers to utilize AI tools like Claude to complete production on the game.
Per Bloomberg, the collaboration with Disney was originally slated for a March 2027 release and is now without a date. According to Bloomberg, developers were directed to incorporate an "AI first" production model. An internal memo obtained by the outlet included the instruction: "No more hand-written code," adding that artwork would be "generated with full AI workflows."
Epic Games did not address the purported existence of this Disney-themed shooter, but Epic's communications director Jake Jones provided a statement to Bloomberg, saying: "We’re embracing AI-accelerated development, led by Epic developers who are the visionaries and creative drivers for everything we do."
Shortly before Bloomberg's report went live, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney posted on social media about the company's "huge pivot" toward "maximum AI acceleration" for game development--a move Sweeney believes would benefit "all teams using Unreal."
Sweeney elaborated in subsequent posts, adding that Epic's "modest aim" is to "survive the AI revolution, help other developers do the same, and come out on the other end making better code and content faster."
That pivot to an AI-focused model appears to be a key component of Epic 's collaboration with Disney. AI consultant and "Metaverse artist" Lachlan Phillips, who directed four Disney experiences for Fortnite, stated on social media that he advocated for "AI-heavy workflow across coding and art."
Disney has heavily invested in Epic Games and Fortnite ($1.5 billion, to be exact), and the two companies are working on multiple gaming projects together. A report earlier in 2026 claimed that one of these projects was an extraction shooter starring Disney characters, though it is unclear if this is the same project as the Marvel/Star Wars shooter Bloomberg has reported on.
Regardless, gaming appears to be a key priority for Disney under CEO Josh D'Amaro, who began his tenure in the top executive position earlier in 2026.
“Interactive platforms are an increasingly relevant medium for younger audiences to engage with characters and stories, and our collaboration with Epic Games is central to our efforts in this space,” D'Amaro said in May. “Our characters are among the most popular across the Fortnite universe.”
Despite rumors that Disney is looking to acquire Epic Games, Disney executive Dana Walden said that such talks were "not the conversations we’re having right now," adding that Disney and Epic have "a great partnership.”