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

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Build A Rocket Boy, the developer behind Mindseye, has recently undergone another round of layoffs affecting around 170 employees.
The latest job cuts come weeks after the company launched an updated game campaign, and mark the third round of dismissals since Mindseyes release last summer.
The studio has faced difficulties in stabilizing the project and maintaining its planned production pace due to technical issues and an underwhelming reception of the game.
In addition to layoffs, Build A Rocket Boy has faced accusations of privacy violations and sabotage, as well as claims that executives made excuses for potential negative feedback before the games launch. These events have cast doubt over the studios future.

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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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