Leslie Benzies Accuses "Sabotage", While Team Reveals Chaotic Development of MindsEye

Leslie Benzies' Accusations vs. Chaotic MindsEye Development - Allegations Amidst Internal Strife

Leslie Benzies, the former Grand Theft Auto producer and founder of Build A Rocket Boy, attributed the failure of his studio's game, MindsEye, to internal sabotage. Ex-employees, however, presented a different account, pointing to issues with Benzies's leadership. Following MindsEye's rocky launch and harsh critical reception, Benzies convened a company-wide meeting where he accused certain staff of undermining the project. He reportedly called the criticism unjustified, vowing to "root out the supposed conspirators." "It's sickening that someone could sit here, act like this, and still have a job," Benzies was quoted as saying, just a week after mass layoffs had been announced. Former employees described a chaotic work environment characterized by last-minute decisions, micromanagement, and a lack of creative direction. One former employee, who wished to remain anonymous, stated, "Leslie never knew what game he wanted to make. There was no real plan." Others echoed this sentiment, noting Benzies often acted as the primary project manager, prioritizing his own tasks, internally referred to as "Leslie tickets" or "Leslies." Ben Newbon, a former data analyst, confirmed, "Whatever you were doing, a Leslie ticket took top priority." Additionally, employees reported that their suggestions and warnings were frequently ignored.

Internal Strife and Overworked Teams at MindsEye Development

This constant pressure resulted in extended periods of unpaid overtime. One team's work was often undone by another's mistakes. Morale plummeted as errors accumulated, leaving employees exhausted, prone to bickering, and questioning the purpose of their efforts. These issues contributed to the studio's eventual difficulties. Build A Rocket Boy (BARB), founded in 2016 after Benzies departed Rockstar North, had secured approximately $233 million in funding by 2024 and expanded to nearly 450 employees. The studio initially promised an ambitious open-world multiplayer RPG called Everywhere. However, as that project became unmanageable, development shifted focus to MindsEye, which was originally conceived as a smaller component of Everywhere.

Controversial Layoffs and Union Threat at MindsEye Impact Project and Publisher

MindsEye officially launched in June, receiving widespread critical condemnation and performing poorly commercially. This led to a significant restructuring, with approximately 250 to 300 employees, primarily from the Edinburgh office, losing their jobs. Shortly thereafter, nearly 100 ex-employees penned an open letter detailing their dissatisfaction with the handling of the layoffs. The Independent Workers of Great Britain (IWGB) union, which represents the affected workers, subsequently threatened legal action against Build A Rocket Boy. Spring McParlin-Jones of IWGB's games division expressed strong disapproval, asserting that the developers had been exploited and vowing to hold the company accountable. In the wake of these events, IO Interactive, MindsEye's publisher, has withdrawn from the project. Hakan Abrak, CEO of IO Interactive, recently announced that the company will now focus solely on publishing its own games, concluding external partnerships for the foreseeable future.

In Case You Missed It

In our ongoing exploration of the shifting landscapes and challenges within the video game industry, we'd like to draw your attention to three insightful articles published this week on Players for Life. First up, Ahmed Hassan delves into Rockstar Games' upcoming GTA 6 in his piece "GTA 6 to Bring a Major Shift for the Franchise, Long Overdue" (published October 12th), examining how the game is set to introduce women into law enforcement roles and embrace political correctness, sparking both anticipation and debate among fans. Next, Hassan explores the evolution of our favorite spy in "Unexpected Version of James Bond Inspires New 007 Game", published on October 13th. Here, we see a younger, vulnerable Bond expertly portrayed by Patrick Gibson in the upcoming game "007: First Light", promising intense and agile combat akin to Daniel Craig's era, set for release on March 27, 2026. Lastly, Jonathan Dubinski reports on the ongoing saga surrounding Build A Rocket Boy, with over 90 current and former employees taking a stand against alleged abusive working conditions and mismanagement in their open letter and legal action supported by the Independent Workers' Union (IWGB). You can dive into these stories here: GTA 6 article GTA 6 to Bring a Major Shift for the Franchise, Long Overdue, James Bond game article Unexpected Version of James Bond Inspires New 007 Game, and Build A Rocket Boy employees' stand Build A Rocket Boy Employees Release Open Letter and Take Legal Action Against Studio.