Mindseye's cyberpunk dreams: a rocky revival or another launch disaster?
Build a Rocket Boy’s CEO, Mark Gerhard, is attempting a resurrection of Mindseye, the open-world game born from the mind of former GTA Online director Leslie Benzies. But can a title plagued by a disastrous launch and critical shortcomings truly achieve the sales heights of Cyberpunk 2077? The answer, based on current data, appears to be a resounding ‘probably not’.
A torrent of troubles and accusations
Mindseye's initial release was, as Gerhard himself admits, “the worst launch in history.” The game, intended as a sprawling open-world experience, was crippled by technical issues, leading to widespread disappointment and a torrent of negative reviews. Now, following layoffs at Build a Rocket Boy in 2025, Gerhard is doubling down on a turnaround strategy, claiming organic sales are “almost doubling weekly” and that the game is “being valued very well.”
However, the numbers paint a different picture. Steam reviews, currently hovering around 67% favorable based on just 98 recent user reviews, tell a far less optimistic story. Gerhard attributes this lukewarm reception to a coordinated campaign of sabotage by disgruntled former employees, leakers, and content creators, a claim he insists is currently being investigated by authorities in both the UK and the US. The detail of alleging a conspiracy, while bolstering his narrative of external interference, also raises eyebrows given the game’s inherent flaws.
He cites return rates—2.2% on Xbox Series X|S and 3.2% on PS5—as being within industry averages, a statistic that feels almost deliberately chosen to distract from the game’s deeper problems. The sheer lack of concurrent players on Steam—often dipping below a dozen—further underscores the uphill battle facing Mindseye’s revival.
The ghost of cyberpunk and a questionable strategy
The comparison to Cyberpunk 2077, while ambitious, feels misguided. While Cyberpunk’s launch was marred by bugs, CD Projekt Red ultimately delivered on its promise of a compelling, albeit flawed, experience. Mindseye, even with Gerhard’s optimistic projections, has yet to demonstrate that potential. The notion of replicating Cyberpunk’s success while simultaneously alleging sabotage suggests a desperate attempt to deflect responsibility for a fundamentally flawed product.
Gerhard’s insistence on this revival plan, coupled with the cancellation of the Roblox-esque project Everything, indicates a focus on salvaging Mindseye at all costs. But chasing a Cyberpunk-sized hit with such a compromised foundation seems less like a strategic move and more like a prolonged exercise in denial.
The persistent narrative of sabotage, however, provides a convenient explanation for failure that avoids introspection.
Ultimately, Mindseye’s fate rests not on conspiracy theories or alleged organic growth, but on its ability to deliver a genuinely engaging and polished gaming experience. Until then, it remains a cautionary tale of ambition exceeding execution, and a stark reminder that even the most lofty aspirations cannot compensate for a flawed foundation.