Key Takeaways
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- Build A Rocket Boy, a game studio founded by a former Rockstar developer, has announced layoffs due to the poor performance of their debut project MindsEye.
- The co-CEO, Mark Gerhard, claims that the studio has been subjected to organized espionage and corporate sabotage, including a defamation campaign funded by an unnamed large American company, allegedly orchestrated through a British agency called Ritual Network.
- The studio is working with external partners and legal consultants to investigate these activities, although specific details cannot be shared due to ongoing judicial proceedings.
- Internal management issues, such as intense crunch periods, poor resource management, and lack of creative direction under Leslie Benzies, were also reportedly contributing factors to the games failure, according to former team members.
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Build A Rocket Boy, the studio founded by former Rockstar developer Leslie Benzies, has announced new layoffs following the poor performance of its debut project, MindsEye, released in 2025. According to co-CEO Mark Gerhard, the studio possesses substantial evidence of organized espionage and corporate sabotage that undermined the game’s success. He argues that Build A Rocket Boy has been the victim of unprecedented criminal attacks, rather than simply facing general economic pressures in the gaming market. Gerhard stated that the company is working with external partners and legal consultants to investigate these activities. Due to ongoing judicial proceedings, specific details and evidence cannot be shared publicly. Gerhard’s claims echo statements made earlier this year. In February, Insider Gaming reported on an internal meeting where Gerhard told employees that the culprits had been identified. He alleged that a large American company financed a defamation campaign worth over 1 million euros. This campaign, allegedly orchestrated through a British agency, Ritual Network (which has publicly denied the accusations), involved bribing influencers, journalists, and even Build A Rocket Boy employees to sabotage and disparage MindsEye.
Game Layoffs Amidst Ongoing Sabotage Allegations and Internal Strife at MindsEye
These allegations contrast with reports from former team members last year, which suggested that internal management issues were to blame for the game’s failure, rather than external conspiracies. These reports cited intense crunch periods, poor resource management, and a lack of creative direction under Leslie Benzies, who reportedly pushed for hasty implementation of new mechanics. Moreover, critics cited numerous bugs, poor performance optimization, and weak AI in their reviews of MindsEye upon its 2025 release. Regardless of the reasons, these layoffs add to the growing number of job losses in the gaming industry in 2026.
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Staying true to our promise of keeping you updated on the hottest gaming news across platforms, we’re thrilled to share two exciting scoops from our team! First up, Sophie Laurent has spilled the beans on an unexpected treat for PlayStation 5 enthusiasts. In her recent article ‘Ambitious Xbox Game for PlayStation 5’, published on March 2nd, she drops a bombshell: Bethesda’s Starfield is reportedly heading your way sooner than you think! So, mark your calendars and prepare to dive into the cosmos – check out Sophie’s insightful piece here Ambitious Xbox Game for PlayStation 5. Meanwhile, Carlos Mendoza has dropped a hot scoop on March 3rd: Xbox Game Pass might be welcoming one of the biggest RPGs in recent years! Make sure to head over to ‘Xbox Game Pass May Soon Receive One of the Biggest RPGs in Recent Years’ Xbox Game Pass May Soon Receive One of the Biggest RPGs in Recent Years to find out more about this thrilling update. But that’s not all! If you’re intrigued by the ethical dilemmas presented in Resident Evil: Requiem, don’t miss Sophie’s insightful article “What is the Ending of Resident Evil: Requiem?” published on March 3rd. She delves into the game’s thought-provoking conclusion and explores how your choice to destroy or release Elpis shapes two drastically different outcomes for our heroes. Want to know more about Grace’s fate and Leon’s sacrifice? Check it out here – you won’t want to miss this deep dive into Resident Evil’s latest chapter! What is the Ending of Resident Evil: Requiem? Don’t forget, gamers, to enable those cookies for the full picture!
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