It’s been a difficult time for Build a Rocket Boy, the developer of MindsEye, since the game launched. A recent report from GamesIndustry.biz includes interviews with former employees who largely attribute the game’s negative reception to issues with the studio’s leadership. These problems included a lack of trust between leaders and staff, constantly adding new features and expanding the game’s scope, and overall poor management.
A former employee said the recent layoffs at the studio were unexplained by leadership, who instead blamed “saboteurs” both within and outside the company. The employee also stated that co-CEO Leslie Benzies didn’t accept any blame for the difficulties Build a Rocket Boy was experiencing.
The former employee expressed disappointment with the explanation given for the layoffs and the company’s difficulties. Instead of a clear explanation, they were told that internal and external forces were trying to harm the company. They found it particularly upsetting that Leslie, a company leader, didn’t accept any responsibility for the game’s unsuccessful launch and seemed to distrust the employees themselves. The suggestion that anyone would intentionally sabotage a project they had worked so hard on felt deeply disrespectful.
Ben Newbon, a former lead data analyst at the studio, explained that MindsEye‘s development suffered from constantly adding new features. He believes the game could have been successful if the team had focused on refining what they already had. However, Leslie Benzies frequently became captivated by new ideas and insisted on including them in the game, even if it meant diverting from the original plan.
Newbon explained that the project might have succeeded if leaders had focused on refining what they already had. However, they kept adding new features, even late in the development process. Leslie, in particular, would often request additions right before launch, leaving insufficient time to properly test everything and ensure it all worked together without causing problems.
Several employees have described how the development of MindsEye was negatively impacted by the studio’s constant need to satisfy Leslie Benzies. One person explained that the studio stifled its own creative team in an effort to please him. Another pointed out that Benzies might have succeeded if he’d only taken advice from the many skilled and dedicated professionals the studio hired.
A representative from Build a Rocket Boy stated that Benzies is currently taking a break to rest and recover after working non-stop for over a year.
This isn’t the first time people who used to work at Build a Rocket Boy have discussed problems with how the game MindsEye was led during its creation. As early as October, Newbon mentioned several instances where leaders didn’t listen to feedback from the development team.
The studio is also facing legal issues brought on by the IWGB Game Workers union in Britain. The union sent a letter criticizing the leadership at Build a Rocket Boy and stated they are exploring legal options to support former employees.
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2026-02-10 17:11