MindsEye Devs Publish Letter Criticizing the Company

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Developers who currently or previously worked at MindsEye have released an open letter expressing concerns about the leadership at Build A Rocket Boy. They allege poor management and other mistakes, adding to the ongoing issues surrounding the launch of MindsEye.

Originally revealed in March 2023, *MindsEye* was a highly anticipated cyberpunk action game intended to establish Build A Rocket Boy—a Scottish studio led by Leslie Benzies, a former key developer on the *GTA* series—as a major player. However, when the game launched in June 2025, it received extremely negative reviews and disappointed fans. Shortly after, Build A Rocket Boy began laying off employees.

MindsEye Staffers Allege Mishandled Layoffs and Crunch in Union-Backed Letter

Nearly 100 current and former employees of Build a Rocket Buy have signed an open letter, published by the Independent Workers of Great Britain (IWGB) union, detailing concerns about how the company handled layoffs and the troubled launch of their game, *MindsEye*. The letter claims that employees were forced to work mandatory overtime—an extra eight hours per week—for four months leading up to the release. Instead of paying overtime, the company offered time off in lieu, but at a rate of seven hours off for every eight hours worked. The IWGB alleges that many employees haven’t been able to use this earned time off due to constant requests for urgent work.

The letter seems to confirm previous reports that the developer of MindsEye experienced layoffs starting in June 2025, with an estimated 250 to 300 people losing their jobs. The union representing workers called the way these layoffs were handled “disastrous,” citing misinformation, administrative mistakes, and possible unfair dismissals that caused confusion and upset. The letter also accuses studio leaders of a lack of openness, stating that employees were consistently given very little information, which often changed suddenly and without any discussion.

A group of 93 current and former employees is calling for significant changes at BARB. In a letter, they’re demanding a public apology, financial support for those who have lost their jobs, and a clear plan for improving how the company operates – including formally recognizing the union. The letter states that BARB needs to transform, and that leaders should step back and let the remaining, experienced employees guide the company forward.

IWGB’s Demands for MindsEye Developer BARB

  1. A public apology for this mistreatment of employees and proper compensation for laid-off employees;
  2. The option for remaining employees on redundancy notice to either work their notice period or take Payment in Lieu of Notice (PILON);
  3. A concerted, meaningful, and documented effort to improve conditions and processes within the company, including the acknowledgement of the IWGB as a trade union;
  4. A commitment to use official external partners to action any future redundancies and prevent unfair treatment.

BARB needs to adapt. Instead of leading from the top, CEOs should empower their talented employees to drive the company forward.

The letter is sharply critical of Build A Rocket Boy, but doesn’t contain any legal threats. It blames the game’s difficult launch entirely on the studio’s leaders, and doesn’t mention the publisher, IO Interactive. IO Interactive recently suggested that the poor performance of *MindsEye* might lead them to stop offering third-party publishing services. Build A Rocket Boy is rumored to be planning a relaunch of the game, but there are few details available and this hasn’t been officially announced.

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2025-10-10 20:11