Take-Two laid off the head its AI division and an undisclosed number of staff
Take-Two, the owner of Grand Theft Auto developer Rockstar Games, has seemingly laid off the head of its AI division, Luke Dicken, and several staff members working under him. "It’s truly disappointing that I have to share with you that my time with T2 — and that of my team — has come to an end," Dicken shared in a LinkedIn post spotted by Game Developer . When asked to confirm the layoffs in its AI division, Take-Two declined to comment. Dicken writes that his team was "developing cutting edge technology to support game development" and his post specifically notes that he's trying to find roles for staff with experience in things like "procedural content for games" and "machine learning." It's unclear how many people other than Dicken have been impacted by these layoffs, but the timing does seem a bit unusual for Take-Two. Like some other large game publishers , Take-Two has "actively embraced" generative AI tools to "drive efficiencies" and "reduce costs." Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has even framed AI as having a positive effect on employment, noting that generative AI "will not reduce employment, it will increase employment," because "technology always increases productivity, which in turn increases GDP, which in turn increases employment." It's too early to characterize these layoffs as some sort of tide turning against AI — like other big game companies, Take-Two also just does a lot of layoffs — but it's interesting they're happening now, while the company is speeding towards the release
Take-Two Interactive, the parent company of Rockstar Games, the creators of the highly successful Grand Theft Auto series, has reportedly laid off the head of its AI division, Luke Dicken, along with an undisclosed number of staff members under his leadership. Dicken shared the news in a LinkedIn post, expressing disappointment about the end of his tenure at Take-Two and that of his team. The company declined to comment when asked to confirm the layoffs.
In his post, Dicken highlighted that his team was working on "cutting-edge technology to support game development," and he emphasized his efforts to help staff members find new roles in areas such as procedural content generation for games and machine learning. The exact number of affected employees, apart from Dicken, remains unclear, but the timing of these layoffs appears unusual for Take-Two.
The company has been actively embracing generative AI tools to drive efficiencies and reduce costs, similar to other large game publishers in the industry. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has even framed AI as having a positive impact on employment, arguing that generative AI "will not reduce employment, it will increase employment," as technology increases productivity, which in turn boosts GDP and employment levels.
While it's too early to determine if these layoffs signal a shift in sentiment towards AI within the company, it's worth noting that Take-Two, like other big game companies, has a history of layoffs. The layoffs occur as Take-Two gears up for the release of Grand Theft Auto VI, a highly anticipated sequel expected to be a major financial success for the company. This success should provide Take-Two with the financial flexibility to experiment with new technologies.
Dicken's departure and the layoffs of his team come as the gaming industry continues to explore the potential of AI to enhance game development and player experiences. The unclear impact of these layoffs on Take-Two's AI division raises questions about the company's strategy in this area, particularly as it prepares for the launch of Grand Theft Auto VI.
Take-Two's decision to lay off staff from its AI division, including its head, Luke Dicken, is a notable development in the gaming industry, where AI is increasingly seen as a tool to drive innovation and efficiency. As the company moves forward towards the release of Grand Theft Auto VI, observers will watch closely to see how it navigates the balance between leveraging AI for growth and managing its workforce in a dynamic market landscape.
