Microsoft developers lament having been replaced by the AI they helped develop

Artificial intelligence has become a central element in video game production, generating disruptive changes in the industry, both for large AAA title developers and for mobile game creators like King, known for its success Candy Crush. However, the recent layoff of around 200 employees at King has raised alarms in the sector, as many of those affected were level designers and writers who had contributed to developing the AI tools that now replace them.

Their substitute is the technology they created

According to a report from Mobilegamer.biz, the implementation of AI at King has a double-edged sword. Initially, these technologies were conceived to optimize processes and provide gameplay advice, but their evolution has led to a considerable reduction in staff. The layoffs, driven by Microsoft, have created an atmosphere of distrust and concern among employees, who feel that their jobs are threatened by the very tools they helped create. An anonymous member of the studio mentioned that many designers found themselves unemployed after months of hard work in creating these tools.

The team’s morale has significantly dropped, reflecting a general perception of being replaced by AI, contrary to their initial intention of using technology as a support in the creative process. The situation is worsened by the fact that, apparently, the writing team is also being eliminated, as there are now AI tools that perform similar functions to those of writers, which intensifies the discouragement in the studio.

As the industry struggles with the adoption of AI, the human consequences of these decisions are beginning to be palpable. Developers may be wondering: to what extent is it worth using technology that could jeopardize their careers?

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