Laid Off Candy Crush Studio Staff Reportedly Replaced By The Ai Tools They Helped Build

Microsoft’s extended gaming portfolio was deed difficult by sweeping layoffs earlier this month. The business appears to person been peculiarly galling for unit astatine Candy Crush developer King who are reportedly group to beryllium replaced by AI devices they worked on.

Multiple anonymous sources person told MobileGamer.biz that a number of narrative, UX, level creation and personification investigation staffers astatine King person spent respective years helping to build and train AI models that tin do their jobs much quickly. Those aforesaid labor are now being told their jobs are astatine risk. They added that nan copywriting squad is facing nan aforesaid fate, pinch nan London-based group moving connected Farm Heroes Saga expected to efficaciously beryllium trim successful half.

"The truth AI devices are replacing group is perfectly disgusting but it’s each astir ratio and profits moreover though nan institution is doing awesome overall," a root told nan mobile gaming-focused outlet. "If we’re introducing much feedback loops past it’s crazy to region nan developers themselves, we request much hands and little leadership."

The aforesaid root estimated that nan company-wide unit cuts could extremity up being much than 200, which was nan number reported by Bloomberg erstwhile it broke nan news of nan broader layoffs.

The effect of nan caller staffing upheaval is being felt crossed Microsoft’s gaming division. Engadget’s Jessica Conditt recently spoke to labor astatine Halo Studios, pinch 1 developer telling america they were "super pissed" astir nan layoffs. At slightest 5 group wrong Halo Studios were told they nary longer had jobs soon aft receiving an all-staff email from Microsoft Gaming SEO Phil Spencer allegedly celebrating Xbox’s existent profitability. The aforesaid developer said Microsoft was trying its "damnest to switch arsenic galore jobs arsenic [it] tin pinch AI agents" arsenic it increasingly pushes Copilot connected its staff.