Latest Update (June 24, 2025): Build a Rocket Boy, creators of the controversial title MindsEye, has officially acknowledged IGN’s earlier report regarding staff reductions. While the exact scale remains unconfirmed, the studio confirmed it has entered a formal consultation phase.

In a statement provided to IGN, the company expressed: “We regret to announce necessary organizational adjustments within Build a Rocket Boy. Efforts are being made to reassign positions where possible, but we regrettably must proceed with consultations that may lead to role eliminations. This difficult choice was made after careful deliberation, and we’re committed to transparency and fairness throughout. Further updates will follow in the coming weeks.”

“Launching MindsEye marked a pivotal achievement for our team, but ongoing challenges necessitate refocusing efforts. This restructuring aligns with our goals to optimize the game’s performance through updates while maintaining our broader vision for Build a Rocket Boy’s future projects.”

Earlier Developments:

Reports indicate Build a Rocket Boy, responsible for 2025’s lowest-rated title, is preparing significant workforce reductions, potentially affecting upwards of 100 staff members.

Per IGN’s sources, a mandatory 45-day consultation period under UK employment law commenced June 23, suggesting over 100 roles may be cut. The Edinburgh-based studio employs roughly 300 UK staff and 200 internationally, with redundancies potentially impacting one-fifth of its workforce.

MindsEye’s troubled release followed multiple red flags, including lukewarm previews, critical employee feedback alleging internal strife, and leadership resignations days before launch. Public skepticism grew after management accused external parties of orchestrating smear campaigns via paid trolls or bots. Pre-release physical copies lacked critical patches, exacerbating distrust.

At launch, technical chaos ensued: high-end PCs faltered, while PlayStation users demanded refunds due to absent 60 FPS support despite PS5 Pro performance promises. Post-launch patches failed to resolve issues, with analysts like Digital Foundry describing persistent technical shortcomings.

Controversy escalated amid accusations of astroturfing after social media saw similar praise posts like “goosebumps” and comparisons to Cyberpunk 2077. The studio denied bot usage, but skepticism lingered.

Sales figures remain undisclosed, but impending layoffs suggest underwhelming performance. This casts doubt on post-launch support for MindsEye and the future of Build a Rocket Boy’s ambitious platform, Everywhere—a creative ecosystem initially positioned to host MindsEye as a flagship experience. Following strategic shifts, Everywhere’s viability now appears uncertain, with the studio earlier asserting it hadn’t been “abandoned” despite MindsEye’s standalone release.

The situation mirrors cyclical gaming industry narratives: a studio’s survival now hinges on transforming a maligned release into a redemption story. Alternatively, MindsEye’s failure may foreshadow Build a Rocket Boy’s dissolution, joining the ranks of studios undone by botched launches.