What happened
Epic Games is directing developers on an unannounced Disney shooter to use AI tools like Anthropic's Claude, with a director telling staff "No more hand-written code" and that all art will use "full AI workflows," per Bloomberg.
Why it matters
One director's "No more hand-written code" directive signals Epic is pushing AI into the core of game production, not just as a supplementary tool.
WHO IT HITSGame developers and artists at Epic Games face a mandate that replaces hand-written code and traditional art creation with AI workflows, a shift that may concern workers whose roles center on those skills.
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The mandate arrives as part of a broader multiyear collaboration between Epic Games and Disney, which also invested $1.5 billion in Epic in 2024. Epic has already brought AI into Fortnite, which previously featured Disney characters like an AI Darth Vader, but the new directive suggests the company may be aiming to have AI do most of the heavy lifting on its new Disney game.
Epic is not alone in pushing AI game development tools. Other large companies like Meta and Google have also been releasing such tools. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney has publicly argued that Steam should drop its "made with AI" tag, saying that "AI will be involved in nearly all future production."
The AI-first approach comes after a challenging period for Epic. Earlier this year, the company laid off over 1,000 employees, following a "downturn" in engagement on Fortnite since 2025, suggesting the push toward AI-accelerated development may be tied to cost and efficiency pressures, though the company has not stated that directly.
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