Reports indicate that employees recently let go from King are expected to be replaced by AI tools that they were instrumental in developing

According to sources within the mobile game developer King, employees laid off during Microsoft's recent workforce reductions are being replaced by AI tools that they helped develop. Mobilegamer.biz reports that several level designers from the company, widely known for Candy Crush Saga, were dismissed after working on tools designed to expedite level creation.

An unnamed source from King mentioned, "Those AI tools are now essentially taking over the roles of teams." The source also stated that the copywriting department is undergoing similar changes, with AI systems supplanting human roles that the affected employees had been involved in creating.

While approximately 200 employees from King were reportedly let go as part of Microsoft's broader layoffs, this source indicated that the true number could surpass that estimate. An internal survey revealed that employee morale was already low, but since the layoffs, one source described morale as "in the gutter."

Mobilegamer.biz reported that Microsoft’s layoffs mainly targeted roles in middle management, user experience, and narrative copywriting. Specifically, about half of the London-based Farm Heroes Saga team, roughly 50 individuals, will depart. Some senior employees have been put on gardening leave pending the announcement of a new organizational structure in September.

King, which had already been exploring AI applications, acquired the AI firm Peltarion in 2022. Last June, Sahar Asadi, director of King's AI Labs, discussed how AI was employed to test Candy Crush Saga levels before launch. The playtesting bot developed by King provided insights into player experiences, allowing designers to adjust levels to achieve the intended player experience.

Asadi emphasized the importance of designers by describing AI as a supportive tool rather than a replacement. "Absolutely we need designers," she stated. "The playtesting tool offers insights into gameplay before release," highlighting collaboration rather than substitution in the design process.

GamesIndustry.biz has requested comments from King regarding these developments.