Take-Two Interactive has laid off its entire artificial intelligence division ahead of the anticipated launch of Grand Theft Auto 6. The decision, described as drastic and unexpected, was revealed by Luke Dickens, the head of the AI team, on LinkedIn, rather than through an official company announcement.
On April 3, 2026, Dickens stated that he and his team were no longer employed by Take-Two. He did not disclose the number of employees affected by the layoffs but expressed disappointment over the situation. Dickens emphasized his intention to assist his colleagues in finding new job opportunities and promised to share a reflective post about his experiences at Take-Two and its subsidiary Zynga.
The layoffs come just months before the launch of GTA 6, scheduled for November 19, 2026. CEO Strauss Zelnick has publicly opposed the belief that artificial intelligence could independently create successful video games but views AI as a useful tool in development. Despite these layoffs, Take-Two has not issued an official comment regarding the changes.
In February 2026, Zelnick confirmed that generative AI was not utilized in the development of GTA 6 during an interview with Gamesindustry.biz. He reiterated that all in-game assets for the title are crafted by developers, not generated procedurally. “Generative AI has zero part in what Rockstar Games is building,” Zelnick stated. “Their worlds are handcrafted. That’s what differentiates them.”
Zelnick also confirmed that the marketing campaign for GTA 6 would begin in the summer. The recent layoffs and Zelnick’s previous statements suggest a clear stance on the company’s approach to AI in gaming.
