No other game in recent weeks has sparked as much public attention for all the wrong reasons as MindsEye, the highly anticipated title from developer Build a Rocket Boy. Riding high on early hype thanks to the involvement of former Grand Theft Auto producer Leslie Benzies, the game’s final release was met with widespread disappointment and ridicule. From technical issues to lacklustre content and underwhelming gameplay, MindsEye quickly became a cautionary tale of overpromising and underdelivering.
Now, in what many had feared as an inevitable consequence, reports indicate that Build a Rocket Boy is preparing for a wave of layoffs. According to IGN, the studio is expected to let go of more than 100 employees, a figure that would represent roughly 20% of its total workforce. The studio reportedly employs about 300 staff in the UK, with over 200 more spread across its international offices.
The reported layoffs have raised serious concerns regarding the studio’s future and its capacity to uphold promises of continued support for MindsEye. Among the commitments previously made was the rollout of new content updates, including a long-promised multiplayer mode, something that now appears increasingly uncertain.
A Dark Future for MindsEye
Adding further controversy, the studio was previously embroiled in accusations of manipulating public perception. There were suggestions that negative reviews targeting MindsEye were paid attacks, while speculative reports accused the company of using bots to generate artificially positive feedback. These allegations only served to damage the studio’s credibility during an already tumultuous launch period.
With morale seemingly at an all-time low and confidence in the product faltering, the planned layoffs could mark a turning point for Build a Rocket Boy, one that determines not just the future of MindsEye but the studio’s survival in an increasingly competitive industry. No one likes to see such failure in the industry, and hopefully this will help the team turn a corner and try to win the consumers back.
