Epic Goes "AI-First": Sweeney Confirms "Huge Pivot" as Marvel and Star Wars Shooter Slips

Epic Games is reorganizing its developers around AI, and Tim Sweeney says it's happening now. The Fortnite maker's CEO confirmed a "huge pivot" toward what he called "maximum AI acceleration". This came hours after Bloomberg reported that Epic had delayed its unannounced Marvel and Star Wars shooter and told the team to work "AI-first".

What Bloomberg reported

According to Bloomberg's Jason Schreier, the Disney-backed shooter has fallen behind schedule. Part of the reason is that Epic underestimated how many people it needed to build it. The game had reportedly been aiming for a March release, and no new date has been shared.

To catch up, developers on the project were reportedly told on a video call to switch to an "AI-first" production model. An internal message from one of the game's directors reportedly said there would be "no more hand-written code". It also said all of the game's art would be created through AI workflows, with generative tools such as Anthropic's Claude doing the work and staff guiding and reviewing it. Bloomberg says some developers were stunned by the change.

Disney, which put $1.5 billion into Epic in 2024 as part of a long-term plan for a shared games and entertainment universe, declined to comment.

What Epic has confirmed

Epic hasn't disputed the report. Sweeney posted on X that the company is "moving developers around to retool for maximum AI acceleration." He said the goal is to let everyone at Epic build more and better things, not to do the same work with fewer people. He added that Epic wants to pass those benefits on to every team that builds with Unreal Engine.

When asked whether the move was about speeding up a possible stock market listing, Sweeney said Epic's "more modest aim" is to survive the AI revolution and help other developers do the same.

Epic's communications team gave a statement to Bloomberg. It said the company is "embracing AI-accelerated development", led by its own developers, whom it described as the creative drivers of its work.

What it means for Fortnite players

Right now, nothing changes in-game. None of the reporting says Fortnite's own teams have received the same "no hand-written code" order. The Fortnitemares update on October 15 is still on track. But Sweeney described the pivot as company-wide, and Fortnite is by far Epic's biggest product. It would be surprising if AI tools didn't spread further into how Battle Royale, its modes and UEFN are built over time.

That's why the reaction has been so loud. Many players and creators were already wary of AI-generated content in games. They're also mindful that Epic made deep job cuts earlier this year. Supporters argue that AI tools could mean faster updates and more content. Skeptics worry about quality, about artists and programmers losing work, and about Fortnite's look and feel getting more generic.

The real test will be what reaches players. If the Disney shooter ships on time and looks good, Epic will point to it as proof that the approach works. If it doesn't, expect a lot more questions the next time a Fortnite update feels rushed.

We'll keep an eye on whether Epic shares more about how this affects Fortnite's own development. For now, the takeaway is simple: Epic is betting big on AI, and its CEO isn't hiding it.

Sources