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, has reportedly laid off the head of its AI division, Luke Dicken, along with several 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 about the layoffs.
In his post, Dicken highlighted that his team was working on cutting-edge technology to support game development. He also mentioned his efforts to help affected staff find new roles, particularly in areas such as procedural content generation for games and machine learning. The exact number of staff impacted by these layoffs remains unclear, but the timing of the announcement is notable.
Take-Two, like other large game publishers, has been actively embracing generative AI tools to drive efficiencies and reduce costs. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has framed AI as having a positive impact on employment, arguing that generative AI will not reduce jobs but instead increase them. He explained that technology always 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, it's interesting that they are occurring as Take-Two gears up for the release of Grand Theft Auto VI. The highly anticipated sequel is expected to be a major financial success, providing the company with the financial flexibility to experiment with new technologies.
Take-Two's decision to lay off staff from its AI division comes as the company continues to invest in AI and generative tools. The layoffs may not necessarily indicate a turning point against AI, as Take-Two has a history of frequent layoffs. However, the timing of these layoffs, coupled with the imminent release of Grand Theft Auto VI, raises questions about the company's strategy and priorities.
As the gaming industry increasingly relies on AI and machine learning to enhance game development and player experiences, the impact of these layoffs on the broader field remains to be seen. The situation at Take-Two serves as a reminder of the complex relationship between technology, employment, and the evolving landscape of the gaming industry.
