{
  "id": 14047797,
  "title": "Epic Games tells employees to use AI to get Disney game done",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/epic-games-tells-employees-to-use-ai-to-get-disney-game-done",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-10-12T19:31:37.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The A.V. Club",
    "slug": "the-a-v-club",
    "url": "https://www.avclub.com/epic-games-disney-ai-delay"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Epic Games is facing a dilemma after laying off 1,000 employees in March due to a downturn in Fortnite engagement. The company is now working on a Disney project featuring characters from Marvel and Star Wars, originally set to launch in March. However, the project has been delayed as Epic underestimated the manpower required. The company has now announced that the game will be developed using \"AI first\" workflows, a decision met with \"stunned\" reactions from the staff. Despite the layoffs, Epic employees continue to work hard. The company's spokesperson confirmed that they are embracing AI-accelerated development, led by their developers who are the visionaries and creative drivers for their projects. Disney declined to comment on the situation, but it's unlikely they would oppose using AI to leverage their valuable intellectual property.",
  "summary": "The new game, which features Marvel and Star Wars characters, has been delayed and will now be an \"AI first\" project.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "GamesIndustry",
        "title": "Epic Games delays Disney game and tells developers to go \"AI first\"",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/epic-games-delays-disney-game-and-tells-developers-to-go-ai-first",
        "published": "2026-10-12T19:54:58.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Techmeme",
        "title": "Sources: Epic has delayed the release of an upcoming game, instructing developers to implement an \"AI first\" production model with \"no more hand-written code\" (Jason Schreier/Bloomberg)",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/sources-epic-has-delayed-the-release-of-an-upcoming-game-instructing",
        "published": "2026-10-12T20:25:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Ars Technica",
        "title": "Epic Games reportedly pivoting to \"AI first\" game development model",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/epic-games-reportedly-pivoting-to-ai-first-game-development-model",
        "published": "2026-10-12T20:59:50.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}