Build a Rocket Boy, the studio founded by Leslie Benzies, former head of Rockstar Games, has faced considerable failure following the release of its game Mindseye in June 2024. With a team of 448 employees and over 233 million pounds invested, the game was criticized for multiple bugs and performance issues, leading it to be considered a disaster in the gaming community.
A project without direction
According to reports, the work environment during development was rife with controversies. Benzies made unilateral decisions that altered the course of the project without consulting his team, creating a climate of instability. This management of development was accompanied by mandatory overtime, which caused dissatisfaction among employees. Quality control workers, in particular, suffered severely, as corrections were often lost with the constant changes from other departments.
The study, which accumulated losses of more than 200 million pounds between 2020 and 2024, has been embroiled in criticism not only for the poor performance of its game but also for the way in which staff layoffs were managed. A sector union anticipates legal action due to what is described as “disastrous management”. Some former employees describe a chaotic environment where the lack of clear direction and constant changes made it impossible to fulfill Benzies’ initial vision.
Despite the setbacks, the management of Build a Rocket Boy has taken responsibility for the failure and plans to continue releasing updates to improve Mindseye. However, the community and employees have expressed doubts about the project’s viability and its ability to recover after this tumultuous start.
