Build a Rocket Boy Faces Layoffs Amid Espionage Claims

Build A Rocket Boy, the UK studio behind the poorly received game MindsEye, is facing further layoffs as CEO Mark Gerhard alleges evidence of "organised espionage and corporate sabotage" affecting the game's launch. After a disastrous debut, the studio had already sent out redundancy notices to its workforce in July. MindsEye, originally envisioned as part of the broader creation platform Everywhere, has struggled with significant performance issues and low player counts, drawing sharp criticism from the gaming community. Gerhard has recently escalated his claims against outside influences manipulating perceptions of the game, emphasizing ongoing investigations into potential criminal activities associated with its release.

The backlash against MindsEye stemmed from severe performance issues at launch, including glitches and AI behavior problems, which led to a significant number of players dropping the game shortly after release.

MindsEye is a story-driven action-adventure game from Build A Rocket Boy, founded by Leslie Benzies, a prominent figure in the gaming industry known for his work on the Grand Theft Auto series. The game was meant to appeal to a wide audience, but its release in June 2025 was marred by technical shortcomings that disappointed both players and critics, leading to a struggle for the studio to sustain its workforce and reputation. As the controversy unfolded, the struggles at BARB reflect larger issues within a competitive gaming market, where both internal and external pressures can drastically affect a studio's prospects.