Microsoft replaces laid-off King devs with AI they helped create amid HR turmoil
▼ Summary
– King, a subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, is replacing laid-off employees with AI tools they helped develop, particularly in level design and narrative copywriting teams.
– Microsoft laid off around 200 King employees (10% of its workforce) as part of broader 9,000 job cuts, despite boasting strong financial performance.
– Anonymous King staff criticized the layoffs, calling AI replacements “disgusting” and highlighting poor morale due to leadership prioritizing efficiency over employee well-being.
– King’s HR department was described as dysfunctional, focused on protecting the company rather than supporting staff, further worsening employee dissatisfaction.
– Microsoft’s leadership, including Xbox boss Phil Spencer, emphasized corporate success while morale at King plummeted post-layoffs, reflecting a disconnect between executives and workers.
Microsoft’s recent layoffs at King have taken a disturbing turn, with reports suggesting the company is replacing human developers with AI tools those same employees helped create. The move comes just weeks after Microsoft cut around 200 jobs at King, roughly 10% of its workforce, as part of broader corporate restructuring.
Sources speaking anonymously to MobileGamer.biz revealed that entire teams, including level designers and narrative copywriters, were eliminated despite their contributions to developing AI-powered tools. One employee described the situation as “absolutely disgusting,” pointing out that these layoffs prioritize efficiency and profits over people, even as the company boasts record performance.
The irony isn’t lost on those affected. Developers who spent months refining AI systems to streamline workflows now find themselves redundant, their roles handed over to the very technology they built. “We need more hands and less leadership,” remarked one frustrated staffer, highlighting growing discontent with management decisions.
Morale at King has reportedly plummeted, exacerbated by what employees describe as a dysfunctional HR department. “King HR is an extreme example of an HR team that protects the company, not the staff,” said one source, echoing widespread frustration over workplace conditions. Despite leadership’s claims that improving morale is a “top priority,” recent layoffs and ongoing attrition have left many feeling abandoned.
The timing couldn’t be worse. Microsoft’s Xbox division, under Phil Spencer, continues to celebrate record engagement and a strong pipeline of games, a stark contrast to the uncertainty facing laid-off workers. The situation underscores a troubling trend where corporate gains come at the expense of employee stability, with AI increasingly seen as a cost-cutting replacement rather than a collaborative tool.
As the gaming industry grapples with the ethical implications of AI-driven automation, King’s workforce is left questioning whether their expertise was merely a stepping stone to their own obsolescence. Microsoft and Activision Blizzard have yet to comment on the allegations, but the fallout from these decisions may linger far longer than any short-term financial gains.
(Source: PCGAMER)
