MindsEye CEO Allegedly Claims to Have Found Who Supposedly Sabotaged the Game

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According to a new report, Build A Rocket Boy co-CEO Mark Gerhard has identified individuals responsible for a deliberate effort to harm the studio’s image and the launch of their debut game, MindsEye. MindsEye released on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC in June 2025, but received mostly negative feedback from players and reviewers. The CEO claims these poor reviews were the result of a planned campaign by people both inside and outside the company.

Despite high expectations fueled by a producer with a background in Grand Theft Auto, the action-adventure game MindsEye was a critical and commercial failure. Starring Alex Hernandez of Mafia 3 as Jacob Diaz, the game was so poorly received that it became one of the lowest-rated games of 2025. Players and critics cited technical problems, poor performance, and a generally disappointing experience. In a rare move, PlayStation even offered refunds to those who purchased MindsEye. The last time Sony offered such refunds without question was for the troubled launch of Cyberpunk 2077 in 2020. While Cyberpunk 2077 eventually recovered to become a highly-regarded RPG, it seems unlikely that the creators of MindsEye, Build A Rocket Boy, will be able to achieve a similar turnaround.

MindsEye CEO Reportedly Claims to Have Found Supposed Saboteurs

Mark Gerhard, co-CEO of Build A Rocket Boy, first claimed in May 2025, shortly before their game’s launch, that someone was intentionally working against both the studio and their game, MindsEye. He’s now reportedly strengthened those accusations and named those he believes are responsible. Insider Gaming reports receiving a video from an internal meeting where Gerhard says he’s identified and “caught the guys” who were sabotaging MindsEye.

According to the report, Gerhard alleges a large American company funded a €1 million campaign to damage the studio’s reputation. He claims this was carried out by a UK firm called Ritual Network, which supposedly paid influencers, three journalists, and employees of Build A Rocket Boy to discredit the studio and their game, MindsEye. Ritual Network denied any involvement when contacted by Insider Gaming, stating they were also unaware of any legal proceedings.

Gerhard reportedly threatened legal action against colleagues at Build A Rocket Boy, claiming they’d be accused of crimes like espionage and sabotage. However, he also seemed intent on controlling how the situation was presented, even suggesting he’d use the details – including names and facts – as the basis for a new spy mission within the MindsEye game. Previously, Insider Gaming reported that a planned Hitman crossover with MindsEye was canceled after Build A Rocket Boy and IO Interactive split, and that this new spy mission would take its place.

The reported meeting also included discussion of new cybersecurity software secretly installed on employee computers. The CEO admitted the company didn’t communicate this well and took responsibility, emphasizing the next three months are vital for the business’s success.

The meeting concluded with Gerhard describing February 4th as a turning point for the game, coinciding with the release of a new MindsEye update on all platforms. The update, as detailed in the official patch notes, included a visual overhaul and general improvements based on feedback from players and the community. Although the game still has a “mixed” overall rating on Steam, recent reviews are overwhelmingly positive – 81% of the 65 reviews from the last month are favorable.

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2026-02-06 20:34