In July 2025, an all-staff meeting took place at Build a Rocket Boy, a video game studio in Edinburgh, shortly after the launch of its first game, MindsEye, which was reported to have faced significant issues. The game reportedly received negative feedback from critics and players, being labeled as “broken” and “buggy.” Leslie Benzies, the company’s CEO, informed employees through a video call that there was a plan to improve the situation and suggested that internal and external forces had worked against the game’s launch. He expressed discontent over the negative comments received.
According to employees, this assertion was met with skepticism, as they attributed the game’s problems to clearer, internal factors rather than conspiracy. Benzies, previously a notable figure at Rockstar Games, established Build a Rocket Boy in 2016. By late 2024, the company, based in a former casino in Leith, Edinburgh, had grown to nearly 450 employees but had also reported significant financial losses.
MindsEye initially began as part of a multiplayer title called Everywhere, but faces challenges due to rapid changes in direction under Benzies’ leadership. A recent open letter by 93 current and former employees criticized management’s decision-making processes, suggesting a lack of proper consultation with the team. Claims of micromanagement further fueled concerns about workplace culture and communication.
Following the game’s launch, many employees claimed they faced increased work demands, leading to mandatory overtime—referred to as a period of “crunch.” Issues reported by users included game performance problems and significant bugs, contributing to a disappointing post-launch environment. In September 2025, approximately 250 to 300 employees were reported to have lost their jobs amid allegations of mishandled redundancies.
Build a Rocket Boy has stated that it remains committed to addressing the concerns raised about MindsEye and improving its development processes. However, former staff are less optimistic about the game’s ability to recover or their prospects within the industry.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gzn34gwvwo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss