Epic Games has pushed back the release of an unannounced shooter built around characters from Disney’s Marvel and Star Wars franchises, offering no indication of when the project might resurface. The title had been positioned as one of the studio’s most ambitious collaborations, pairing the Fortnite maker’s development muscle with two of the most commercially valuable intellectual property libraries in entertainment. No revised launch window has been provided, leaving the future scope and direction of the game uncertain.
Alongside the delay, Epic has told its development teams to shift toward an “AI first” approach to building games, according to a report from Epic Games delays Disney game and tells developers to go “AI first”. The directive marks a notable change in how the company expects staff to structure production workflows, placing artificial intelligence tools at the center of decision-making rather than treating them as supplementary aids. While Epic has not detailed exactly which stages of development will be reshaped, the instruction suggests a sweeping review of how projects—including high-profile licensed titles—are planned, budgeted and executed going forward.
A wider industry pivot toward AI-driven production
Epic’s announcement arrives as AI adoption accelerates across the broader gaming industry, with major studios experimenting with machine-generated assets, automated testing, and AI-assisted design tools to compress development timelines and manage rising production costs. The delay of a flagship Disney-branded shooter, paired with a mandate to prioritize AI, indicates that even established studios with deep publishing relationships are willing to pause marquee projects while they recalibrate internal processes. It also raises questions about how external partners, including Disney, may need to adjust expectations as Epic reworks its production pipeline.
The implications extend beyond Epic’s internal teams. Developers working on licensed properties often operate under tight contractual timelines, and a shift toward AI-first methodology could affect staffing models, outsourcing arrangements, and the pace at which future collaborations are greenlit. Industry observers will be watching whether other major publishers follow with similar directives, particularly as competitive pressure mounts to demonstrate efficiency gains from AI investment.
For the UAE and wider Gulf region, the development carries particular relevance. Dubai has positioned itself as a regional hub for gaming events and investment, while Saudi Arabia has committed substantial capital toward building out its gaming and esports sector through state-backed initiatives. As international studios increasingly establish regional footprints or forge partnerships with Gulf-based gaming ventures, decisions made by companies like Epic regarding AI integration are likely to shape expectations for local studios. Regional developers watching Epic’s pivot may find themselves reassessing their own production strategies, particularly if AI-first workflows become a standard expected by global publishers and investors alike.
Epic has not indicated when the delayed Disney shooter might return to its development roadmap, nor has it specified how deeply the AI-first directive will alter existing projects already in progress.
