A Studio in Turmoil

Things are taking a dramatic turn for Build A Rocket Boy, the ambitious studio created by former Grand Theft Auto producer Leslie Benzies. Reports indicate that the company is on the brink of laying off over 100 employees after its latest release, MindsEye, became the lowest-rated game of 2025.

Player Backlash and Refunds

Despite frantic attempts to fix numerous performance issues, many players are opting for refunds on PlayStation 5. The sci-fi shooter, which explores themes of mental implants and memory loss in a near-future desert city reminiscent of Las Vegas, has suffered a staggering 'mostly negative' rating on Steam.

Layoff Process Underway

According to IGN, the company has initiated redundancy processes at its UK office, where roughly 300 employees are based. UK law mandates a 45-day consultation period for layoffs involving more than 100 individuals within 90 days, adding uncertainty to the scale of the impending cuts. Additionally, about 200 developers are reportedly working overseas.

The Ambitious Vision Behind MindsEye

The large team size reflects Build A Rocket Boy's grand ambitions, particularly with their scalable gaming platform, Everywhere, designed to function as a metaverse. Initially, MindsEye was supposed to merely showcase this larger project but has now taken center stage as Everywhere faced delays.

Controversial Launch and Reputation Damage

Before MindsEye's launch, Benzies touted user-generated content tools to keep players engaged for a decade. However, a lack of review copies for media and sudden cancellations of sponsored streams suggested a pending disaster, which soon unfolded as the game became a target for criticism on social media.

Mixed Reception and Performance Issues

Published by IO Interactive, MindsEye was marketed as a Mafia-style thriller with open-world mechanics akin to GTA. Despite its visually striking cutscenes and engaging story, players criticized the gunplay and the behavior of non-playable characters (NPCs). Serious performance issues on PC and consoles led Sony to grant refunds outside their usual policy—a move indicative of the game's failure.

What Lies Ahead?

Unlike the notorious Cyberpunk 2077, which was pulled from the PlayStation store after its disastrous launch, MindsEye is still available for purchase on both console and Steam. Currently, player reviews sit at only 38% positive. As the community eagerly anticipates a third major update by the end of June, the company's future remains uncertain. Notably, right before the game’s release, Benzies accused critics of being paid bots, while the studio's chief legal and financial officers departed suddenly.