More MindsEye developers have been laid off, and GTA veteran Leslie Benzie’s studio is reportedly shutting down. That is the news from IGN, which reports that more staff at Build A Rocket Boy have said they’ve been let go, and that Kotaku’s sources close to the studio claim the company is permanently shutting down.
The studio’s future is now uncertain. Its games include MindsEye, the troubled title that launched last year and struggled to find its footing. The layoffs come on top of a string of prior cuts, and the latest round has brought fresh names into the open.
The Layoffs at Build A Rocket Boy
Head of audio Stuart Ross, level designer Liam Shannon, release manager Michaela Emslie, lead QA analyst Sandy Greig, QA analyst Elizabet Tyaneva, and production QA analyst Cameron Deaves are among those who recently announced their time at the studio is coming to a close. The list goes beyond these six, with many more staff leaving according to the report.
This isn’t the first time Build A Rocket Boy has cut jobs. Last year, the company made an unknown number of staff redundant. In May, the studio reportedly laid off a further 170 workers. Remaining staff also staged a protest this summer against Build A Rocket Boy’s “all expenses paid” fan event.
The most recent layoffs raise questions about the company’s entire future. Kotaku’s sources close to the studio claim Build A Rocket Boy is shutting down permanently. That is a strong claim, and it comes from people close to the situation, not from the studio itself.
Hawkins’s LinkedIn Post
Adding fuel to the fire, principal talent acquisition officer Dan Hawkins posted on LinkedIn that he’s looking for new work “along with the rest of my colleagues at Build A Rocket Boy.” He said he’s now “seeing BARB through till the very end, helping wrap things up here in the HR department.”
The post suggests the remaining staff are preparing for the studio’s close. Hawkins is not alone in his search; he framed the move alongside his colleagues, suggesting the layoff wave extends across the organisation.
MindsEye’s Troubled History
MindsEye itself hasn’t been able to turn around a turbulent first year. The game was initially promised to be part of Everything, a make-your-own-game type of Roblox-y experience, before the scale was pulled back considerably.
The game’s launch was messy, and the aftermath was even messier. Eurogamer’s one-star review said MindsEye was “sunk by a ridiculous story, inconsistent writing, poorly designed mission scenarios, and utterly atrocious combat.” A myriad of tech issues certainly didn’t help its case.
From there, executives from the studio held firm that MindsEye suffered at the hands of unnamed saboteurs.
The Shutdown Claim
Kotaku’s sources close to the studio claim Build A Rocket Boy is shutting down permanently. The report cites sources close to the studio, not official confirmation from the company itself.
IGN reached out to Build A Rocket Boy for comment, and the story will be updated if the studio responds. For now, the claim stands as a warning to the industry: a studio founded by a veteran of Grand Theft Auto is closing its doors.
The Pattern of Cuts
The pattern of cuts at Build A Rocket Boy is now familiar. Last year’s unknown number of redundancies followed by the May layoff of 170 workers shows a company under pressure.
The latest round of layoffs adds to that record. With each cut, the studio loses more of its foundation. The shutdown claim suggests the end may be near, though nothing is confirmed until the studio speaks.
Key Facts Box
- Layoffs: More staff at Build A Rocket Boy have been let go, per IGN
- Shutdown claim: Kotaku’s sources close to the studio say the company is shutting down permanently
- Prior cuts: Last year, an unknown number of staff were made redundant
- May layoff: A further 170 workers were laid off in May
- Protest: Remaining staff staged a protest this summer over the “all expenses paid” fan event
- MindsEye platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
“Seeing BARB through till the very end, helping wrap things up here in the HR department.”
The closure of Build A Rocket Boy is a reminder of how fragile the games industry can be. The shutdown claim is serious. It suggests a company that once had plans for a major project has now folded, leaving behind a troubled game and a trail of departed staff.
The story will continue to develop. Whether Build A Rocket Boy confirms the shutdown, and what becomes of the games it released, remains to be seen. For now, the people affected deserve support as they move on.
The games industry has seen closures before, and it will see more. The difference is whether the people involved are treated with care during the transition. That is the lesson from this round of layoffs.
The games themselves are part of what is at stake. MindsEye, the troubled title that launched last year and struggled to find its footing, remains on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
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