Epic Games reportedly pivots to an "AI first" game development model

According to Ars Technica, Epic Games is reportedly shifting to a development approach that puts artificial intelligence front and center — an "AI first" model.

The report concerns a delayed shooter set in the Marvel and Star Wars universes, created as part of a collaboration with Disney. By the account given, the new direction means stepping away from hand-written code and leaning on AI for creating art.

The details of the report are limited, and no extensive official statement confirming the specifics is offered at the time of publication. Still, the very idea of such a turn at a major studio — the one behind the Unreal Engine — is telling: it reflects a direction in which part of the games industry is said to be moving, pushed by a drive to cut costs and speed up production.

How workable the approach proves in practice remains an open question. The project's delayed status only adds to the intrigue over whether the bet on automation will live up to expectations.

Source: Ars Technica