Take-Two has laid off its AI team

Rockstar Games parent Take Two Interactive has reportedly laid off its artificial intelligence team, including former head of AI, Luke Dicken. Dicken, who joined Take Two in January 2025 after a decade at Zynga, confirmed the development on LinkedIn and highlighted that his team worked on machine learning, procedural content, DevOps, and production management, all critical aspects of game development. He urged the community to help find new positions for his talented team members.

Take Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has been vocal about the limits of AI in game creation. He previously stated that AI lacks the creativity to develop games like Grand Theft Auto 6, and confirmed that GTA 6 would not feature generative AI content. Despite this, Zelnick acknowledged that Take Two has been using AI across its studios for years to improve workflows and efficiency.

The layoffs come amid a broader wave of job cuts in the gaming industry. Earlier, EA and Epic Games also reduced staff despite successful titles, reflecting the sector’s current challenges. While AI and machine learning remain integral to game development, the recent focus on generative AI has sparked debate over its effectiveness and role in creating major hits.