MindsEye Developers Confirm Layoffs as Build A Rocket Boy's Future Hangs in the Balance

Several developers behind the troubled MindsEye have announced they've been laid off, raising serious doubts about the future of its embattled studio, Build A Rocket Boy.

Originally conceived as part of Everywhere, a 'Roblox for adults' creation platform spearheaded by former Grand Theft Auto design lead Leslie Benzies, the narrative-driven action-adventure MindsEye eventually became the studio's primary focus. At its peak, BARB had grown to over 500 employees.

However, when MindsEye launched in June 2025, it was met with a disastrous reception. Players slammed it as 'broken,' 'buggy,' and 'the worst game of 2025.' In response, BARB expressed it was 'heartbroken' over the issues players encountered and pledged a series of patches to address performance problems, glitches, and AI behavior bugs. Benzies reportedly told staff the studio would recover and relaunch MindsEye, blaming internal and external 'saboteurs' for its struggles. CEO Mark Gerhard also mentioned an investigation into what he described as 'criminal activity' surrounding the game's launch.

By July of last year, IGN reported that the Scottish studio had sent at-risk of redundancy emails to its roughly 300 UK employees. More layoffs followed, and this summer, former staff protested outside the studio over an 'all-expenses-paid playtest day.'

BARB tried to revive MindsEye with the 'Blacklisted' update, but it failed to generate interest. Later updates and a last-ditch 50% off Steam sale also went unnoticed. While console player numbers are unknown, MindsEye's 24-hour peak concurrent player count on Steam was a mere 16.

The full scope of the layoffs remains unclear. One source close to the studio told IGN that the company might not be dissolved even if all staff are let go. Regardless, the future of both the studio and MindsEye is now in serious question. IGN has reached out to BARB for comment.

Benzies was a pivotal figure in the Grand Theft Auto development team at Rockstar, widely regarded as one of the key architects of its massive success. He departed in 2016 amid a legal dispute over unpaid royalties, which was eventually settled out of court. Thanks to the GTA connection, BARB secured over £233 million ($313 million) in investment by 2024, and Hitman developer IO Interactive acquired publishing rights.

BARB's latest financial statements, covering up to September 30, 2025, show revenue of £4.6 million ($6.1 million) against total operating costs of £52.1 million ($70 million), resulting in a net loss of £36.2 million ($48.6 million) for the period.

In May, Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Rockstar parent company Take-Two, seemed to allude to BARB's difficulties. 'Making hits seems to get harder and harder and harder as entertainment industries mature,' Zelnick said at the TD Cowen 54th Annual Technology, Media & Telecom Conference. 'The folks at Rockstar seem to be able to make these massive hits, and lots of other people have tried. Lots and lots, including former Rockstar employees. And so far, they haven't been able to do it.'