Build a rocket boy cuts jobs amidst 'espionage' claims after mindseye failure

Build A Rocket Boy is further tightening its belt, announcing additional layoffs following the spectacular flop of its game MindsEye. The UK studio’s CEO, Mark Gerhard, has fueled the controversy by alleging “organized espionage and corporate sabotage” contributed to the game's failure, a claim met with skepticism from industry insiders.

Layoffs follow disastrous launch, ceo points to 'criminal activity'

The news comes after BARB, the Edinburgh-based company, issued an at-risk of redundancy notice to its 300-strong UK workforce in July following MindsEye's release. BARB had subsequently expressed regret over the game’s performance issues, promising patches to address glitches and AI problems. MindsEye, initially conceived as part of Everywhere, Leslie Benzies’ metaverse platform, has failed to attract players despite updates.

Benzies, former design chief at Grand Theft Auto, previously suggested internal and external saboteurs were responsible for the game’s struggles. Gerhard’s latest announcement, revealed on the company’s LinkedIn page, cited “criminal activity” surrounding the game’s launch as evidence of “organized espionage and corporate sabotage.” He declined to provide specifics, stating the matter is “moving toward prosecution.”

The claims have drawn sharp criticism from developers online, with some labeling them “incredibly rude” and “delusional.” Gerhard had previously accused YouTuber Cyber Boi of media manipulation and sabotage in a cease and desist letter to the MindsEye Discord.

IO Interactive, publisher of the Hitman series, publicly denied allegations of a coordinated effort to damage Build A Rocket Boy. Earlier this year, BARB announced Leslie Benzies was taking a “temporary leave” following a period of intensive work, a move Gerhard described as a recharge. While MindsEye currently averages just 11 concurrent players on Steam, the studio’s future remains uncertain.

The Hitman’s publisher’s denial underscores the severity of Gerhard’s allegations, now potentially heading to legal proceedings. The implications for Build A Rocket Boy, and the broader industry’s confidence in ambitious metaverse projects, are significant.

Wesley Yin-Poole is the News Director at IGN. You can find him on Twitter at @wyp100.