MindsEye Game Launch Fails Amid Leadership Chaos

Build A Rocket Boy's first game launch faltered after management disregarded staff concerns and issued abrupt directives that upended development, according to former employees who spoke with BBC Newsbeat.

MindsEye, the studio's debut title, attracted just 3,000 players at its peak during launch week, a disappointment for a company founded by Leslie Benzies, a veteran developer who helped create the blockbuster Grand Theft Auto series.

Former staffers described a chaotic development process dominated by what they called "Leslie tickets," post-playtest change requests from the chief executive that ranged from minor visual tweaks to scrapping entire missions. The frequent reversals created what employees characterized as a cycle of rework and confusion.

Development Crunch and Dismissed Concerns Plagued MindsEye Release

Former associate producer Margherita Peloso and lead data analyst Ben Newbon told BBC Newsbeat that technical or design concerns were often dismissed or ignored. Teams endured roughly four months of intensive overtime, reporting physical and mental exhaustion as previously resolved bugs resurfaced due to poor communication.

The studio also made a late pivot in strategy, releasing MindsEye as a standalone game rather than as part of Everywhere, the user-generated content platform previewed at Gamescom in 2022. A promotional video released four days before launch reflected the rushed, last-minute changes, former employees said.

Mr. Benzies attributed the game's commercial struggles to "internal and external forces" and alleged sabotage, according to staff accounts. Former employees disputed that explanation, pointing instead to leadership decisions as the primary cause of the troubled launch.

The episode illustrates how even studios helmed by industry veterans can stumble when management style clashes with operational needs, a reminder that clear communication and staff input remain essential in high-stakes game development.