Candy Crush Developers Reportedly Being Replaced by the AI Tools They Helped Build Amid Microsoft Layoffs
In a troubling twist to Microsoft’s ongoing mass layoffs, over 200 developers at King, the studio behind Candy Crush, are reportedly set to be replaced by the very AI tools they helped develop. According to a detailed report from MobileGamer.biz, the layoffs are targeting level designers, copywriters, and other game development roles across King’s offices in London, Barcelona, Stockholm, and Berlin.
King, the mobile-focused division of Activision Blizzard King (ABK), became a crucial asset for Microsoft following its $69 billion acquisition of ABK, due to Microsoft’s previous lack of mobile gaming presence. The acquisition brought one of the most recognizable mobile game franchises into Microsoft’s portfolio overnight. However, it appears the studio’s employees are now experiencing the darker side of this transition.
Sources cited in the MobileGamer.biz report state that teams were heavily involved in building generative AI tools designed to speed up the development process. Ironically, those very tools are now being used to justify the dismissal of the people who created them. “Most of level design has been wiped, which is crazy since they've spent months building tools to craft levels quicker,” said one source. “Now those AI tools are basically replacing the teams.” Similarly, the copywriting team is also seeing significant cuts.
The layoffs have sparked internal frustration, with employees alleging that individuals critical of leadership have been selectively targeted. One source described King’s HR department as “an absolute shitshow,” accusing it of prioritizing corporate protection over employee wellbeing.
Microsoft has maintained that AI tools would handle repetitive tasks, freeing human developers to focus on creativity. In fact, Sahar Asadi, Director of King’s AI Labs, shared at GDC 2024 that AI integration would allow teams to concentrate on more complex and creative parts of game development. However, the current wave of layoffs contradicts that message.
An internal memo sent to King staff attempted to frame the restructuring as part of a growth strategy, stating the goal was to enable “fewer layers, fewer overlapping remits, fewer hours spent on alignment, fewer people in meetings, fewer stakeholders for every project,” while also “unlocking many more AI tools.”
The cuts will reportedly impact not only the Candy Crush team but also half of the Farm Heroes Saga team. Despite King’s ongoing financial success, the cost-cutting measures are being justified as part of a broader push for “efficiency” and “profit optimization.”
One anonymous source condemned the move, stating: “The fact AI tools are replacing people is absolutely disgusting but it's all about efficiency and profits even though the company is doing great overall. If we're introducing more feedback loops then it's crazy to remove the developers themselves. We need more hands and less leadership.”
This development is part of a growing trend across the tech and gaming industries, where AI is reshaping workflows at the expense of traditional roles, a reality that may soon become the norm rather than the exception.
What are your thoughts on the use of AI replacing game dev jobs? Do you see this as inevitable progress or a warning sign for the industry? Let us know in the comments.
