Studio Behind Mindseye, Build a Rocket Boy, Hits with Another Round of Mass Layoffs

Build A Rocket Boy, the studio behind Mindseye, has reportedly initiated another significant round of layoffs, potentially impacting around 170 employees. This news, disclosed by Kotaku, emerges weeks after the company launched an updated game campaign. Internally, this update was framed as a response to an alleged sabotage campaign targeting the title. The new wave of job cuts affects various studio areas and exacerbates the crisis the company has faced since the tumultuous release of Mindseye. The game launched amidst high expectations, largely due to the involvement of former Rockstar Games executive Leslie Benzies. However, it received criticism for technical issues and an underwhelming reception, which reportedly pressured the developer to restructure its operations. This marks the third round of dismissals at the firm since Mindseye's release last summer, as the company has encountered difficulties in stabilizing the project and maintaining its planned production pace. Approximately 170 employees are affected by these recent cuts, leaving Build A Rocket Boy with around 80 staff members.

Last week, Mindseye received a new patch featuring a fresh story mission, intended to signal ongoing development and larger plans for the game. The recent update to the campaign was presented as an effort to adjust the game's experience following negative repercussions and accusations of sabotage mentioned by company members. Build A Rocket Boy also faced accusations of privacy violations last month, with unionized employees claiming the studio was collecting their data for unclear purposes. In March 2026, Kotaku previously reported layoffs at Build A Rocket Boy. To date, co-CEO Mark Gerhard has not publicly commented on the most recent round of job cuts. Developers who have announced their departures from the studio on LinkedIn include Technical Level Designer James Tyler, Audio Designer Tom Cross, QA Analyst Gary Iain Gough, and Level Designer Leah Philpot. Even a week before the game's launch, executives from Build A Rocket Boy were reportedly making excuses for its potential reception. Mark Gerhard, a co-CEO, claimed he believed negative feedback was being generated by bots and paid influencers. These assertions persisted throughout 2026.

Layoffs Cast Doubt Over Build A Rocket Boy's Future Uncertainty Amidst Workforce Reductions

To date, Build A Rocket Boy has not officially detailed the extent of the new restructuring or commented publicly on the full impact of the dismissals. However, the continued uncertainties surrounding the studio’s future are heightened by these significant workforce reductions.

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In our ongoing exploration of cultural initiatives and fan discussions, let me draw your attention to a few insightful pieces we've recently published on Players for Life. First up is Marcus Thompson's comprehensive look into the Ministry of Culture's collaborative efforts with Neoenergia Institute and SESI to empower over 4,300 cultural agents through workshops held across seven regions in Brazil. This piece, "Rouanet Law in the Interior: Partnership Trains Over 4,300 Cultural Agents in Formative Workshops", published on May 1st, delves into how these formative activities aim to democratize access to cultural incentive mechanisms – you can check it out here Rouanet Law in the Interior: Partnership Trains Over 4,300 Cultural Agents in Formative Workshops. Shifting gears, Jonathan Dubinski's recent opinion piece on May 4th provides a compelling perspective on the mixed reactions to Sony Pictures' first trailer for Zach Cregger's upcoming Resident Evil movie. In "Opinion: The Resident Evil Fan (and Gamer) Needs to Mature", Dubinski argues that some criticisms may stem from an immature desire for nostalgia over valid concerns about film quality – you can read his thoughts here Opinion: The Resident Evil Fan (and Gamer) Needs to Mature. In a surprising turn, Dubinski also reported on May 7th that Microsoft has pulled the plug on its AI assistant Copilot for Xbox consoles under new CEO Asha Sharma's leadership. His insightful piece, "Microsoft Halts AI Assistant Copilot for Xbox Consoles", explores how this cancellation doesn't mean Microsoft is retreating from AI but rather recalibrating priorities with an eye on mobile initiatives – you can find out more about this shift in Xbox's AI plans here Microsoft Halts AI Assistant Copilot for Xbox Consoles.