Mindseye Fiasco Ends Partnership Between Build A Rocket Boy and Io Interactive

Io Interactive (IOI), the Danish studio behind the Hitman franchise and the upcoming 007 game, has officially withdrawn from the Mindseye project following its troubled launch in June 2025. Plagued by bugs, technical issues, and internal controversies surrounding Build A Rocket Boy CEO Leslie Benzies, Mindseye led IOI Partners, Io Interactive’s publishing arm, to sever ties with the studio. Build A Rocket Boy has now regained full editorial rights and will independently manage the project. IOI Partners will assist with the transition to ensure a smooth handover to Build A Rocket Boy. The publishing agreement ended on March 18, 2026. The separation also cancels the Hitman crossover announced in June 2025, disappointing players eager to see Agent 47 in the Mindseye universe. Build A Rocket Boy stated that other collaborations are under consideration, though details remain unconfirmed. According to a joint statement, IOI Partners' involvement with Mindseye will cease after this transitional period, as Build A Rocket Boy assumes full publisher status.

IOI Partners Exits Mindseye Project Amid Challenges; Build A Rocket Boy Regains Control and Future Direction

To understand the context, IO Interactive launched IOI Partners in October 2024 to support promising third-party studios, following their 2017 split from Square Enix and subsequent success with Hitman. Build A Rocket Boy, founded by former Rockstar North lead and Grand Theft Auto V mastermind Leslie Benzies, was the first to benefit. Mindseye, an ambitious action-science fiction project, was intended to showcase IO Interactive’s new role as a publisher. However, the game's release was marred by technical problems and allegations of internal sabotage from Leslie Benzies. Earlier this month, reports indicated that Build A Rocket Boy experienced layoffs and is investigating potential issues related to the Mindseye launch with its external partners. This split concludes a challenging publishing endeavor for IO Interactive, who will now focus on their core franchises. Build A Rocket Boy now controls Mindseye and its future direction. While this separation represents a setback for IOI Partners, it provides Mindseye's developers the opportunity to independently address player concerns and continue the project. The Hitman crossover, however, will not be realized.

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