In July this year, the employees of Build a Rocket Boy gathered for an all-staff meeting, only three weeks after the launch of their debut game, MindsEye, which had flopped spectacularly. The game faced intense criticism for being 'broken' and 'buggy', receiving the unfortunate distinction of being labeled 'the worst game of 2025'. In a video message to the staff, Leslie Benzies, the studio head and previously a well-regarded figure from Rockstar Games, attempted to reassure them about the company's future while alleging sabotage efforts that led to the game's poor reception.
As the meeting unfolded, Benzies' accusations of internal and external sabotage seemed to stun employees, many of whom felt that the reasons for the game's failure were glaringly evident. This sentiment underlined a growing frustration within the studio, particularly after a week of job uncertainties loomed over them.
Having left Rockstar post-GTA V's monumental success, Benzies founded Build a Rocket Boy, amassing over 400 employees. Despite ambitious projects and substantial investments, the studio had yet to deliver a successful game, and mounting losses contributed to heightened tensions and workforce instability.
Many employees described the chaos surrounding MindsEye's development, indicating a lack of clear vision and leadership direction, which was reminiscent of the turbulent environment that led to its rushed final weeks under pressure for a June release. Key staff members expressed significant dissatisfaction toward management, alleging that decisions frequently caught them off-guard, impacting morale and productivity. In a move reminiscent of company-wide dissatisfaction, 93 current and former employees signed an open letter addressing grievances against the studio's management practices.
Ultimately, with an estimated 250 to 300 layoffs reported, the industry faces a larger reckoning as many talented individuals find themselves navigating uncertain futures within a beleaguered gaming labor market. In response to the backlash, Build a Rocket Boy acknowledged the challenges ahead, reiterating their commitment to improving MindsEye while navigating through a challenging landscape of layoffs and public disappointment.
