MindsEye CEO Blames Saboteurs for Failure, Plans Re-launch Amid Layoff Risks
▼ Summary
– Build a Rocket Boy founder Leslie Benzies announced a “re-launch” of MindsEye during a video chat with employees, despite looming layoffs at the studio.
– The studio is undergoing a 45-day UK-mandated consultation period for potential layoffs of over 100 employees, with redundancy emails sent to all UK staff and PlayFusion employees.
– Benzies blamed the game’s and studio’s troubles on “internal and external saboteurs,” echoing similar claims by co-CEO Mark Gerhard about a conspiracy against them.
– MindsEye’s poor reception and lack of player interest (e.g., only 26 players on Steam) make a successful relaunch unlikely, unlike other games with redemption arcs.
– The studio has not publicly commented on the relaunch plans or conspiracy claims, leaving the future of MindsEye uncertain.
The future of Build a Rocket Boy’s troubled game MindsEye hangs in the balance as CEO Leslie Benzies points fingers at alleged saboteurs while promising a dramatic relaunch. Despite looming layoffs affecting hundreds of employees, the studio’s leadership remains defiant, doubling down on claims of external interference while attempting to salvage the project’s reputation.
Recent reports reveal that redundancy notices have been issued to approximately 300 staff members across Build a Rocket Boy’s UK studio and PlayFusion, the developer behind Ascendant, which the company acquired earlier this year. While the studio initially framed the restructuring as an effort to reassign roles, the scale of potential job losses suggests deeper financial instability.
During a tense video call with employees, Benzies, best known for his pivotal role in the Grand Theft Auto series, reportedly vowed to relaunch MindsEye, framing it as a redemption story. However, skepticism surrounds this pledge, given the game’s disastrous reception. Benzies went further, blaming the studio’s struggles on “internal and external saboteurs,” echoing similar accusations made by co-CEO Mark Gerhard in May. Gerhard had previously insinuated that Rockstar Games orchestrated a smear campaign against MindsEye.
The idea of a shadowy conspiracy undermining the game raises eyebrows, especially since MindsEye’s core issues stem from fundamental design flaws rather than external sabotage. Unlike Cyberpunk 2077 or No Man’s Sky, which recovered through extensive patches and updates, MindsEye suffers from a lack of player interest, evidenced by its dismal Steam numbers, with just 26 concurrent players weeks after launch.
Rebuilding trust with both employees and gamers won’t be easy. The studio’s leadership faces mounting pressure to deliver concrete plans for the relaunch, assuming the company survives the impending layoffs. For now, Benzies’ bold claims remain unproven, leaving industry watchers questioning whether MindsEye can defy expectations or if this is simply the final act of a sinking ship.
As the situation unfolds, all eyes are on Build a Rocket Boy to see whether their ambitious promises translate into action, or if MindsEye will fade into obscurity as another cautionary tale in gaming history.
(Source: PC Gamer)
