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Build A Rocket Boy

All articles tagged with #build a rocket boy

gaming13 days ago•1 min saved

Build A Rocket Boy Enters Administration Amid £61.8M Debt and MindsEye Flop

Edinburgh-based studio Build A Rocket Boy has officially entered administration following the disastrous launch of its debut title, MindsEye. The company, founded by former Grand Theft Auto executive Leslie Benzies, faces insolvency with £61.8 million in creditor debt and a £36.2 million net loss. After multiple rounds of layoffs and internal disputes over management and alleged sabotage, the studio is now under the control of administrators who will determine whether it is sold or liquidated.

via BBC|

#build-a-rocket-boy #gaming #insolvency

news23 days ago•14 min saved

MindsEye Studio Closes as Build a Rocket Boy Winds Down After Layoffs

Build a Rocket Boy permanently winds down MindsEye after multiple layoffs and worker concerns about crunch and monitoring; staff have begun leaving as HR signals the shutdown, while the IWGB union expresses solidarity and vows to pursue justice for workers as Kotaku confirms the closure.

via Kotaku|

#build-a-rocket-boy #closure #iwgb

gaming3 months ago•9 min saved

MindsEye staff protest company-funded fan event amid wave of layoffs

Edinburgh-based MindsEye workers at Build a Rocket Boy plan to picket outside the studio for a weekend fan event funded by the company, arguing the decision comes after multiple rounds of layoffs and amid union concerns over governance and privacy. The IWGB and additional unions are set to join the protest, which follows a history of layoffs and controversy around workplace practices; the studio later issued a statement saying the playtest is for players and MindsEye’s future, signaling ongoing dialogue with the community.

via Eurogamer.net|

#build-a-rocket-boy #gaming #iwgb

technology3 months ago•4 min saved

Rocket Boy staff stage protest against lavish fan event amid mass layoffs

BARB staff, allied with the IWGB and other union reps, plan a weekend protest outside Edinburgh offices over an all-expenses-paid fan event, arguing it glosses over sweeping layoffs (around 300 since mid-2025) and MindsEye’s rocky launch, while calling for stronger worker protections in the game industry.

via GamesIndustry.biz|

#build-a-rocket-boy #edinburgh #iwgb

business5 months ago•13 min saved

MindsEye Studio Downsizing Deepens as BARB Cuts Hit 170

Roughly 170 employees at MindsEye, the studio within Build A Rocket Boy, were laid off—leaving about 80 of 250 staff—marking the third round of cuts this year and following the closure of Build A Rocket Boy France. The moves come as the company pursues a MindsEye turnaround tied to its Everywhere project, with co-CEO Mark Gerhard attributing the layoffs to 'organized espionage and corporate sabotage' and former staff confirming departures on LinkedIn.

via Kotaku|

#barb #build-a-rocket-boy #business

commentary5 months ago•14 min saved

MindsEye's AI Voice Feature Draws Fan Backlash

Kotaku reports that MindsEye co-CEOs, with ElevenLabs, vibe-coded an in-game AI voice assistant called Arcadia Voice; the feature, essentially a voice-control and content-creation tool, drew sharp backlash from MindsEye’s Discord community, prompting BARB’s Will Jones to defend it as a supplement to human developers rather than a replacement.

via Kotaku|

#ai-in-gaming #arcadia-voice #build-a-rocket-boy

games5 months ago•13 min saved

Mindseye Gets Big Price Cut and New DLC as Studio Goes Solo

Mindseye, widely cited as 2025’s worst-reviewed game, is getting a permanent price cut from $60 to $35 across all platforms and a new story DLC called Blacklisted, along with tools for user-created content, as Build A Rocket Boy pivots to self-publishing Mindseye after parting with IOI in a bid to revive interest amid negative reviews and viral clips of buggy gameplay.

via Kotaku|

#blacklisted #build-a-rocket-boy #games

technology5 months ago•2 min saved

IWGB takes BARB to court over alleged staff surveillance

Britain’s IWGB has filed legal action against Build a Rocket Boy over alleged data privacy violations after BARB installed Teramind monitoring software on staff PCs without informing them; the software reportedly tracked keystrokes, screen activity, and microphone audio and was removed after a grievance by 40+ workers, with the union escalating the case to ACAS and the Information Commissioner’s Office, following earlier union-backed litigation over redundancies and new layoffs amid accusations of espionage and mismanagement.

via GamesIndustry.biz|

#build-a-rocket-boy #data-privacy #iwgb

business8 months ago•35 min saved

MindsEye Co-CEO Alleges €1 Million Sabotage Campaign, Vows Legal Action

MindsEye co-CEO Mark Gerhard claims in an internal meeting that a €1M+ smear campaign was funded by a major American company to sabotage MindsEye, alleging payments to influencers, journalists, and MindsEye/Build a Rocket Boy staff via Ritual Network. Ritual Network denies involvement, while Build a Rocket Boy acknowledges a coordinated effort to harm MindsEye’s reputation. Insider Gaming notes MindsEye has deployed enhanced cybersecurity (Teramind); Gerhard says they will pursue legal action and reclaim the narrative as MindsEye moves toward a live-service launch.

via Insider Gaming|

#build-a-rocket-boy #business #espionage

gaming8 months ago•15 min saved

MindsEye Shake-Up: Studio Splits From IO Interactive to Salve a Troublesome Release

A report from Insider Gaming claims MindsEye developer Build a Rocket Boy is separating from publisher IO Interactive, canceling the planned Hitman crossover and refocusing on fixes and updates for MindsEye. Despite layoffs, the studio says it will continue supporting the game with user-made PC content and patches, though Steam data shows the title is largely dormant, prompting skepticism about any quick comeback.

via Push Square|

#build-a-rocket-boy #gaming #hitman

technology11 months ago•3 min saved

MindsEye's Mismanagement and Financial Failures Under Leslie Benzies

Former employees of Build A Rocket Boy accuse director Leslie Benzies of micro-management and poor decision-making, leading to bugs dubbed 'Leslies' and a toxic work environment, amid ongoing legal and public disputes over studio practices and project management.

via Rock Paper Shotgun|

#bugs #build-a-rocket-boy #game-development

technology11 months ago•8 min saved

MindsEye's Failed Vision Sparks Developer Outcry and Industry Reflection

MindsEye, the debut game from Build a Rocket Boy led by ex-GTA boss Leslie Benzies, was a catastrophic failure upon release, plagued by bugs, poor management, and a toxic work environment, resulting in significant financial losses and layoffs, casting doubt on the studio's future.

via BBC|

#build-a-rocket-boy #game-development #leslie-benzies

business1 year ago•3 min saved

MindsEye Developers Criticize Management Over Layoffs and Crunch

A group of 93 current and former employees of Build a Rocket Boy have signed an open letter accusing the studio's leadership of mishandling layoffs, enforcing excessive overtime, and mistreating staff, leading to calls for an apology and better workplace practices.

via Rock Paper Shotgun|

#build-a-rocket-boy #business #game-development

business1 year ago•6 min saved

MindsEye Employees Threaten Legal Action Over Layoffs and Management Issues

Employees and ex-employees of Build A Rocket Boy have accused the studio's leadership of mistreatment, mismanagement, and mishandling of layoffs, leading to legal action by union members. The open letter highlights issues such as lack of transparency, excessive overtime, and wrongful dismissals, amid a poorly received game launch and ongoing employee grievances.

via GamesIndustry.biz|

#build-a-rocket-boy #business #layoffs

world1 year ago•4 min saved

MindsEye Developers Condemn Studio Leadership Over Disrespect, Mistreatment, and Disastrous Launch

Developers and employees of Build A Rocket Boy have signed an open letter condemning the studio's management for longstanding disrespect, mistreatment, and mishandling of redundancies following the disastrous launch of the game MindsEye, with calls for apologies, better treatment, and union recognition.

via Eurogamer|

#build-a-rocket-boy #employee-mistreatment #game-launch-failure