Ethan Crossfield 
Epic Games has reportedly pushed back an unannounced shooter featuring Marvel and Star Wars characters, moving it from a planned March release window to an unknown date. The reported delay matters because it coincides with a major internal shift toward AI-assisted production across code and art.
What happened
Bloomberg reported that Epic delayed the project as the company moves toward an AI-first production approach using tools including Anthropic's Claude. Internal guidance seen by the publication reportedly told developers to stop writing code manually and directed the team to use complete AI workflows for art creation. Epic communications director Jake Jones said the company is pursuing AI-accelerated development while keeping Epic developers in creative leadership roles. The game has not been formally announced, and Epic has not provided a new release target.
Why it matters
The reported shooter is widely viewed as a potential result of Disney's $1.5 billion investment in Epic, announced in 2024. That deal raised expectations for projects extending beyond Fortnite cosmetics, but this delay suggests that any larger Disney-connected release may take longer to emerge. The strategy is also notable because Epic operates Fortnite and Unreal Engine, two of the industry's most prominent live-service and development platforms. A studio with that technical reach placing AI at the center of production will be closely watched by developers, players and rights holders.
What to watch next
Epic has also opened a preview for a redesigned Epic Games Launcher, which the company said was built through an AI-driven coding process. Epic claims the new client launches 46% faster than Steam and restores from the system tray to the library 14% faster. Early public footage from preview users, however, showed lag, bugs and periods of poor responsiveness. The launcher preview could become an early test of whether Epic's AI-focused development push produces practical improvements for users.
Key takeaways for players and fans
- There is no confirmed new release date for the reported Marvel and Star Wars shooter.
- The project remains unannounced, so its format, platforms and full roster are unknown.
- Epic says human developers remain responsible for creative direction despite AI-assisted workflows.
- The new launcher is in preview, and early user reports do not yet match Epic's performance claims.
Epic's stated launcher performance comparison
| Metric | Epic's claim versus Steam |
|---|---|
| Launcher startup | 46% faster |
| Restore from system tray to library | 14% faster |
Expert View
The delay is more consequential than a routine schedule change. Epic is attaching a high-profile, potentially Disney-backed project to a production experiment that will face immediate scrutiny over quality, reliability and creative ownership. For players, the only meaningful measure will be whether the eventual game and launcher feel better—not whether they were made faster.
