Following a disappointing launch for their game *MindsEye* and recent layoffs, Build a Rocket Boy is now facing criticism from the IWGB Game Workers union. The union published an open letter accusing the company of long-term mistreatment of its employees. They described the game’s release as one of the worst of the decade and stated that between 250 and 300 workers have lost their jobs as a result.
The union has raised several concerns about Build a Rocket Boy, including poor communication with employees and excessive overtime. Specifically, employees were required to work an extra eight hours a week for four months before the release of *MindsEye*. The union also criticized the company’s handling of layoffs. Additionally, while Build a Rocket Boy offered employees time off to compensate for the forced overtime, they weren’t actually allowed to use it because of urgent post-launch work on *MindsEye*.
The IWGB Game Workers union publicly announced its support for current and former Build a Rocket Boy employees who are taking legal action and have published an open letter. These actions are in response to what the employees describe as mistreatment and unfair dismissal by the studio’s leadership.
Honestly, it’s been a mess over at Build a Rocket Boy. The union’s saying the layoffs were handled really poorly, causing a lot of stress for everyone involved. Apparently, people were getting bad info, their dismissal notices had the wrong dates, and they were even moved to different teams just to mess with their performance reviews. It’s a pretty awful situation, and the whole thing’s been super confusing for the staff.
The union’s recent letter highlighted the significant stress and hardship employees are facing. They described a pattern of burnout, job instability, and health problems, compounded by the disappointment of a major project that many dedicated years to. The union is calling for change within [Build a Rocket Boy], suggesting that leadership step back and empower the remaining talented team to lead the company forward.
The union is asking the company to publicly apologize for how it treated its employees and to fairly compensate those who were laid off. They also want employees who received layoff notices to have the choice of working through their notice period or receiving immediate payment instead. Furthermore, the union is requesting a clear plan to improve working conditions and a promise that any future layoffs will be handled by external partners to ensure fairness.
An open letter signed by 93 current and former Build a Rocket Boy employees, along with leaders from the IWGB Game Workers union, publicly accuses company leaders Mark Gerhard and Leslie Benzies of mistreating staff.
We fully support the current and former Build a Rocket Boy employees who are taking legal action, with our union’s help, and have publicly shared an open letter. They are speaking out against the unacceptable treatment and dismissals they experienced at the hands of the studio’s leadership.
— IWGB Game Workers (@IWGB_GW) October 10, 2025
Read More
- Gold Rate Forecast
- You Need to Hear the Advice Rhea Raj Gave KATSEYE’s Lara
- Star Wars: Beyond Victory Is A Slight But Enjoyable Experiment In What Meta’s Storytelling Potential (Review)
- Mantis (2025) Movie Review
- ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ Writer, Star Revisit the Show’s ‘Seinfeld’ Reunion
- Demi Moore Debuts Bangin’ Hair Transformation
- Metal Gear Solid Delta Patch Promised, But No Mention of PS5 Performance Improvements
- Dragon Ball: Every Super Saiyan Form Ranked (and #1 is the Most Iconic)
- What Nicole Kidman, Keith Urban and More Shared About Their Salaries
- Stalker: Rusted Dawn may be the best Stalker 2 modpack yet that aims to make the game closer to GAMMA
2025-10-10 19:19