"At-Risk" Emails Issued to Build A Rocket Boy Staff Following Disastrous MindsEye Launch
7/04/2025"At-Risk" Emails Issued to Build A Rocket Boy Staff Following Disastrous MindsEye Launch
Reports confirm that Build A Rocket Boy (BARB), the Edinburgh-based game developer behind the recently launched title MindsEye, has issued "at-risk of redundancy" emails to its approximately 300-strong UK workforce. This significant development follows the game's troubled release and comes as a harsh blow to the studio led by former Grand Theft Auto veteran Leslie Benzies.
Key Takeaway: Build A Rocket Boy (BARB) has issued "at-risk of redundancy" emails to around 300 UK employees after the disastrous launch of its game MindsEye. The game faced significant performance issues and negative player reception, leading to refunds and canceled streams, raising questions about the studio's future and its ability to deliver planned updates.
"At-Risk" Notices and Their Implications
"At-risk" emails are a formal notification in the UK, signaling that employees face potential layoffs. This move triggers a mandatory 45-day consultation period, a legal requirement when a company proposes 100 or more redundancies within a 90-day timeframe. Staff at PlayFusion, a studio acquired by BARB in late 2024 and working on a separate first-person shooter titled Ascendant, also received these concerning notifications. This marks the second round of job cuts for Build A Rocket Boy this year.
MindsEye's Troubled Debut
The "at-risk" emails come on the heels of a disastrous launch for MindsEye, which debuted to widespread criticism from players. Reports indicate significant performance issues, numerous bugs and glitches, problematic AI behavior, and overall negative reception. This poor reception led to players successfully securing refunds, even from platforms like Sony, and prompted the last-minute cancellation of sponsored livestreams for the game.
Despite the severe setbacks, Build A Rocket Boy released a statement asserting that the redundancies are intended to "focus on delivering ongoing updates and performance optimization for MindsEye, while also ensuring the long-term success of Build A Rocket Boy's future ambitions." However, industry observers are questioning the studio's ability to fulfill its post-launch roadmap, which includes a promised multiplayer mode, amidst such widespread staff uncertainty. Shortly after its release, MindsEye also recorded a very low concurrent player count on Steam.
Leadership Addresses Staff Amidst Controversy
In a video call on July 2, 2025, Leslie Benzies, the game director and driving force behind BARB, finally addressed his staff regarding the tumultuous situation. Benzies reportedly expressed confidence that Build A Rocket Boy would "bounce back" and committed to a "relaunch" of MindsEye. In a controversial move, he also allegedly attributed the game's and studio's struggles to "internal and external saboteurs," echoing similar claims previously made by BARB co-CEO Mark Gerhard.
The Broader Context for Gaming Industry
The situation at Build A Rocket Boy highlights the intense pressures within the gaming industry, where even highly anticipated titles with experienced leadership can face severe challenges post-launch. The mass layoffs are a stark reminder of the financial and operational consequences when games fail to meet player expectations. This event contributes to a broader trend of significant restructuring and job cuts observed across the video game sector in recent times.