Key Takeaways
Created with AI - we're still experimenting, so apologies if it misses the mark
- MindsEye launch disappointing due to low morale, broken promises, and questionable decisions within Build A Rocket Boy.
- Persistent confusion about the games direction, frequent changes in game mechanics, and late addition of minigames caused disruptions in gameplay and narrative flow.
- Decision-making bottlenecks and Leslie Benzies having final say on critical matters led to delays and urgent tasks (Leslie tickets) that further disrupted ongoing projects.
- Controversial pivot towards NFTs, tokens, and play-to-earn mechanics for an abandoned project (Everywhere) raised concerns about focus shifting from game creation to attracting investors.
Recommended products
This page contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
Decode Investigation Unveils Struggles at Build A Rocket Boy’s MindsEye
With several major game releases on the horizon, 2025 promises to be an eventful year. However, the launch of MindsEye from Build A Rocket Boy has already proven disappointing, according to a recent report by German TV channel Decode. Based on leaked internal documents and interviews with seven current and former anonymous employees, the report paints a picture of a studio struggling with low morale, broken promises, and questionable decisions. Build A Rocket Boy was founded in 2016 by Leslie Benzies, known for his work on Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption at Rockstar Games. MindsEye was envisioned as a story-driven game showcasing the studio’s talent, but the Decode investigation reveals persistent confusion about its direction. The game design reportedly underwent constant changes, with mechanics added, removed, and reintroduced in modified forms. Minigames were also incorporated late in development, disrupting both gameplay and narrative flow.
Decode’s report identifies a bottleneck in Build A Rocket Boy’s decision-making process, with Leslie Benzies having final say on all critical matters, causing delays as teams await his input. “Leslie tickets,” urgent tasks assigned by Benzies, further disrupted ongoing projects. MindsEye also faced significant technical challenges from the outset, including inconsistent performance that was repeatedly deferred instead of addressed. MindsEye, Benzies’ first release since leaving Rockstar, sold fewer than 160,000 copies and received poor reviews. Another ambitious project, Everywhere, announced in 2017 as a global platform for user-generated content and social experiences, similar to Roblox or Fortnite but with metaverse ambitions, has seemingly disappeared.
Build A Rocket Boy’s Controversial Pivot and MindsEye’s Disarray Derail Studio Progress
The Decode investigation indicates that Everywhere took a controversial turn in early 2022. Internal documents and investor discussions revealed the exploration of NFTs, tokens, and play-to-earn mechanics. Although Build A Rocket Boy publicly denied these plans, some employees felt this indicated a shift in focus toward attracting investors rather than creating a compelling game. Teams also reportedly concluded that the tools offered to players were overly complex, leading to internal doubts about the project’s potential audience. Despite further investment, Build A Rocket Boy underwent several rounds of layoffs, including the dismissal of newly hired international staff shortly after their arrival, a move that surprised many. The report also describes an intimidating atmosphere marked by poor communication. Following the apparent shelving of Everywhere, management refocused on MindsEye, only to find the project in disarray. Long neglected, it featured disparate systems developed at different times with conflicting ideas, and a fragmented narrative resulting from removed or relocated story arcs and awkwardly integrated expansion content. Despite an investment of over 230 million pounds (approximately 265 million euros) in studio projects, MindsEye’s disappointing sales led management to blame a supposed sabotage attempt by competitors, a claim widely dismissed.
Build A Rocket Boy’s Restructuring Amid Job Cuts and Free MindsEye Offer: Rebuilding Trust?
Following these setbacks, Build A Rocket Boy initiated significant changes, including over 250 job cuts. The studio is now attempting to regain player trust by offering a portion of MindsEye for free, but the long-term impact of this strategy remains to be seen given the project’s troubled history.
In Case You Missed It
Buckle up, gaming enthusiasts! We’ve got some unexpected twists and turns to share from the world of gaming. First off, Xbox faced an unprecedented slump in the UK market last year, with Marcus Thompson’s latest article on Players For Life revealing a staggering 39% drop in sales compared to the previous year, marking its worst annual sales ever in the region Xbox Endures Historic Collapse in UK with Worst Annual Sales Ever. Meanwhile, Matt Firor, the former leader of Elder Scrolls Online, opened up about his departure from ZeniMax Online Studios after nearly two decades. In Jonathan Dubinski’s article on Players For Life, Firor shares how Microsoft’s restructuring efforts influenced his decision and pays tribute to his colleagues at ZeniMax Elder Scrolls Online Leader Departs Due to Microsoft. But let’s lighten the mood with an intriguing behind-the-scenes look at Sandfall Studios’ expectations for Clair Obscur. Marcus Thompson’s insightful piece on Players For Life reveals that before its release, Sandfall believed their game would score just 80 on Metacritic – quite a difference from its actual reception! Check it out here Before Release, Sandfall Believed Clair Obscur Would Score Just 80 on Metacritic.
Have any thoughts?
Share your reaction or leave a quick response — we’d love to hear what you think!
-
0
-
0
-
0
-
0
-
0
-
0
