Featured Image Credit: Rockstar Games
Topics: GTA, GTA 6, Grand Theft Auto, Rockstar Games, Take-Two, PlayStation, PlayStation 5, Xbox, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
Topics: GTA, GTA 6, Grand Theft Auto, Rockstar Games, Take-Two, PlayStation, PlayStation 5, Xbox, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
Grand Theft Auto VI is without a doubt going to be Rockstar Games’ best work yet, but with the AI slowly creeping its way into the game industry there’s been a lot of debate on its place in game development.
One company that’s been open and honest on its AI stance is GTA VI’s publisher, Take-Two Interactive which has been in full support of generative AI being a tool to assist developers.
To Grand Theft Auto fans, this was a sign of the end times but Take-Two’s CEO quelled the frenzy by saying there are currently no plans to create a GTA game solely using AI tools.
Now it seems like Take-Two Interactive’s stance on AI has changed again, having huge implications for not just future Rockstar Games titles like Grand Theft Auto VII or Red Dead Redemption 3, but all games published by the company.
Take-Two embracing generative AI led to the formation of an AI development team. Its job was to look into ways AI could be applied to a number of different projects.
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The head of that team, Luke Dicken, has since been laid off.
As reported by Kotaku Dicken lost their job along with several other members of staff on the AI team in what can only be perceived as a drastic u-turn from Take-Two.
Luke Dicken announced the dismissal on LinkedIn saying: “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.
“We’ve been developing cutting edge technology to support game development now for 7 years. These folks know how to match innovation and novel problem solving approaches with strong product design chops to create systems that empower people throughout the development workflow.”
Take-Two Interactive is yet to formally address the lay-offs, and while it's sad to see a team of people dismissed in such heartbreaking circumstances it at least has positive implications for future games published under Take-Two’s banner.
Gamers are getting more and more sick of seeing AI slop on their timelines, and whenever a company has announced its plans to use AI in any stage of development, it’s been met with severe criticism from fans.
Larian Studios is an excellent example of this, providing that even the most beloved game developers are not immune to critiques when AI is involved.