After the massive layoffs recently undertaken by the giant Microsoft, including the majority in several studios of its video game division, we learn that launching employees will be replaced by the tools of artificial intelligence (AI) which they themselves contributed to training.
These are anonymous sources in the developer of mobile games King reported this news to the Mobilegamer.biz site. About 200 people were reportedly dismissed in this studio as part of Microsoft’s drastic budget cuts.
In this regard, a member of the staff of the creator of Candy Crush Saga addressing Mobilegamer.biz said that many level designers had been dismissed after spending months to create smart tools to build levels faster.
The report suggests that job cuts at King mainly affect intermediate executives, user experience and narrative editorial staff, adding that around half of the Farm Heroes Saga team in London will leave, around 50 people.
Complete teams replaced by IA tools
“Today, these AI tools almost replace the teams,” said an anonymous employee. Likewise, the editorial team is completely deleting positions, because we now have AI tools that these people have created. »»
King is best known for his Candy Crush Saga games
King
King has been experimenting for some time already IA tools and bought the company of IA Peltarion in 2022. Last June, the director of King’s IA laboratories, Sahar Asadi, told Gamesindustry.biz that King used AI to test Candy Crush Saga.
“The test robot that we have developed allows designers, before the release of a level, to understand the playing experience of players,” she said. They can see if the level they have created offers the desired experience or not, and if this is not the case, they can go back and refine it. »»
