Owner of GTA 6 Reportedly Layoffs Entire AI Division

Despite the industry’s increasing focus on integrating artificial intelligence into game development, Take-Two Interactive, the parent company of Rockstar Games and 2K, has shut down its dedicated AI department. Former AI Head Luke Dicken confirmed the mass layoff, which was first reported by Kotaku. Dicken departed on April 3, 2026, along with an undisclosed number of team members. The exact number of affected employees beyond Dicken remains unclear. His LinkedIn announcement, which has since been removed, expressed disappointment and appealed to his network to help recruit his former colleagues, praising their contributions. Dicken previously founded the AI team at Zynga before Take-Two acquired the company in 2022. He initially led the division as Senior Director of AI before being promoted to Head of AI for Take-Two in 2025. According to Dicken, his team specialized in procedural content generation, machine learning, and infrastructure creation, developing technologies to support video game development over seven years—a journey that began at Zynga. He also emphasized the group’s ability to enhance development processes across the board.

AI Division Closure at Take-Two Aligns with CEO’s Conservative Stance on AI and Human Capital Investment in GTA VI Development

The decision to close the AI division follows the 2024 closure of Intercept Games, the studio behind Kerbal Space Program 2, suggesting a possible shift toward reduced investment in experimental technology. When contacted for comment, Take-Two declined to address the matter directly but did not deny the department’s closure. This move may seem surprising, given Take-Two’s reputation for using generative AI tools to increase efficiency and cut costs, especially with the highly anticipated release of Grand Theft Auto VI. However, the decision aligns with CEO Strauss Zelnick’s conservative stance on AI. Zelnick has stated that while AI is a useful tool, it is not revolutionary and cannot create masterpieces capable of generating massive sales. He also confirmed that AI played no role in the development of Grand Theft Auto VI. Take-Two’s significant investment in human capital is evident in the development of Grand Theft Auto VI, with the game’s creators spending $2.5 billion on worker salaries since 2019. The closure of the AI team around April 3, 2026, is part of a larger plan to cut 5% of the company’s global staff, with the goal of saving $165 million.

In Case You Missed It

Buckle up gaming enthusiasts! Ahmed Hassan has been keeping us on our toes with his recent articles. First, he takes a look at the potential impact of PlayStation 5’s price hike on GTA 6 sales in “GTA 6 Won’t Sell PS5 at €599, Analyst Says” (March 30, 2026). With the console now priced at €599.99 and industry experts predicting decreased sales due to economic factors, Hassan explores how this might affect Rockstar’s upcoming blockbuster GTA 6 Won’t Sell PS5 at €599, Analyst Says. Then, in an unexpected turn, he exposes the closure of Take-Two Interactive’s AI division in “Take-Two Reportedly Laid Off Entire AI Division Team” (published April 3rd). This impactful shutdown left a highly specialized team of professionals jobless after years of innovating in procedural content generation and machine learning applications for games, shedding light on a significant shift in Take-Two’s strategy Take-Two Reportedly Laid Off Entire AI Division Team. Meanwhile, Marcus Thompson takes us through the gaming landscape of 2025 in “Square Enix Top Publisher of 2025”, published on March 26, 2026. He reveals who took home the top publisher title last year, thanks to Metacritic’s rankings and Square Enix’s impressive lineup including Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake Square Enix Top Publisher of 2025.