New Report Reveals Chaos from Layoffs at King, the Candy Crush Developer, Amid Microsoft’s Daily AI Usage Mandate

Insights into King’s Recent Layoffs and the Role of AI

Last month, MobileGamer.biz revealed details about Microsoft’s sweeping layoffs affecting over 9, 000 employees, particularly within King, the mobile gaming division known for its flagship game Candy Crush, which was acquired with Activision Blizzard. In a recent follow-up report, MobileGamer.biz explored the fallout from the elimination of 200 developers at King, highlighting a troubling atmosphere exacerbated by the imposition of artificial intelligence tools that the developers themselves were tasked with creating.

Morale Struggles Amid Mass Layoffs

The environment at King is reportedly grim, with the layoffs severely impacting employee morale. The strategy of substituting human roles with AI technology developed internally raises concerns about the future of workplace dynamics. One insider expressed that while Microsoft and its AI mandate contribute significantly to the unrest, the underlying issues stem from poor leadership.“Microsoft and AI is one cause of low morale, but the toxicity is endemic to the leadership at King, ” they noted.

Decision-Making Transparency Concerns

Additionally, the leadership’s decision-making process appears to lack clarity, fostering confusion among employees. Many workers feel that the reasoning behind layoffs does not align with the company’s stated rationale, leading to further discontent.

“It didn’t matter that it was people who worked there for ten or more years or who contributed to the success and earned promotions. Performance didn’t matter, ” remarked a source. Despite a structured performance review system, a senior manager questioned the effectiveness of these evaluations in the layoff decisions.

Another source voiced frustrations about the apparent inconsistency in layoff rationale. The claim that layoffs targeted a “heavy management layer” and inefficiencies seems contradictory, particularly when some individuals laid off were quickly rehired thereafter.

Speculation on Layoff Decisions

Speculations surrounding the layoffs suggest ulterior motives that might align with Microsoft’s narrative. Some insiders believe that recent promotions into middle management were a tactic to facilitate cuts, while others hypothesized that layoffs were executed with a top-to-bottom salary-cutting approach.“It looked like executives listed every employee, sorted by salary, and then fired from the top down, ” shared one source.

The Issue of Anonymous Feedback

The atmosphere at King is further complicated by the inability of employees to provide anonymous feedback about leadership.“Every question or piece of feedback was always connected to a name, which scared a lot of people, rightfully so, ” explained a manager attempting to relay feedback to the leadership team.

Challenges within Human Resources

Internal dynamics are being scrutinized as the human resources department faces criticism for its handling of these layoffs. Labels like “incompetent” have been directed toward HR, with sources claiming this department protects ineffective leaders while pressuring employees who raise concerns.“HR has often protected toxic leaders and put pressure on the ‘difficult’ employees for reporting the issue, ”one source added.

Mandatory AI Integration and Future Outlook

Under the looming pressure of mandatory AI usage, employees face additional burdens.“AI was being introduced by Microsoft as mandatory a while ago, ” noted a source. The aim was for a significant percentage of daily tasks to utilize AI, pushing for 100% compliance across all levels—artists, designers, developers, and managers alike.

There are speculations that more layoffs could be forthcoming, suggesting that the company is not yet finished with its restructuring efforts.

The Broader Impact on the Gaming Industry

The ongoing upheaval at King mirrors broader trends across the gaming industry, which has seen a concerning wave of mass layoffs over recent years. The repercussions of these decisions will likely resonate throughout the sector for years, marking a challenging chapter for both employees and companies alike. The situation is not merely unfortunate; it’s indicative of deep-rooted issues warranting attention.

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