Trending Now - Take-two Reduces AI Team Amid Ceo's Concerns
WHO:
Engadget - Luke Dicken stated he is trying to find roles for staff with experience in "procedural content for games" and "machine learning."
Engadget - Luke Dicken, head of Take-Two's AI division
Push Square - Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Take-Two Interactive
WHAT:
Insider Gaming - Take-Two has reportedly made a major shake-up in the AI department, laying off an unknown number of employees.
Insider Gaming - Luke Dicken expressed disappointment in his LinkedIn post, stating, "It’s truly disappointing that I have to share with you that my time with T2 – and that of my team – has come to an end."
Engadget - Take-Two laid off Luke Dicken and several staff members from its AI division.
Push Square - Luke Dicken announced on LinkedIn that his team was developing technology to support game development for 7 years.
Push Square - Strauss Zelnick stated that the idea of generative AI creating mega-hits like Grand Theft Auto VI is "laughable."
WHERE:
Engadget - Take-Two Interactive, parent company of Rockstar Games
WHEN:
Insider Gaming - The layoffs occurred in April 2026, just months ahead of the anticipated launch of Grand Theft Auto 6.
Engadget - The layoffs occurred in April 2026.
Push Square - Luke Dicken's LinkedIn post was made in April 2026.
WHY:
Insider Gaming - This decision indicates a scaling back of AI development at Take-Two, following previous layoffs in 2024 when the company laid off five percent of its workforce.
Engadget - Take-Two is "actively embracing" generative AI tools to "drive efficiencies" and "reduce costs."
Push Square - Strauss Zelnick believes generative AI can aid game development but not replace it.
HOW:
Push Square - Strauss Zelnick mentioned that Take-Two is "actively embracing" generative AI, stating, "We have hundreds of pilots and implementations across our company."
Push Square - Strauss Zelnick mentioned that Take-Two has "hundreds of pilots and implementations" of generative AI across the company.
(UPDATED April 3, 2026 21:07 UTC)
Take-Two has reportedly made significant changes in its AI department, resulting in layoffs of an undisclosed number of employees, just months before the highly anticipated launch of Grand Theft Auto 6. Luke Dicken, who announced the news on LinkedIn, expressed his disappointment over the end of his time with the company and his team. Despite these layoffs, Strauss Zelnick emphasized that Take-Two is "actively embracing" generative AI, with numerous pilots and implementations underway across the organization.
--
(UPDATED April 3, 2026 19:23 UTC)
Take-Two Interactive has laid off Luke Dicken, the head of its AI division, along with several other staff members, as the company shifts its focus on generative AI tools to enhance efficiency and cut costs. In a LinkedIn post, Dicken shared that his team had been developing technology to support game development for the past seven years, while CEO Strauss Zelnick described the notion of generative AI creating blockbuster titles like Grand Theft Auto VI as "laughable." Zelnick also noted that while generative AI can support game development, it cannot replace the creative process, and the company is currently testing hundreds of AI implementations.