MindsEye’s 10 Year Plan Is Ambitious, But Can The Developers Pull it Off?

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As a gamer, let me tell you, with Summer Game Fest, whispers about Half-Life 3, Xbox Games Showcase, and The Outer Worlds 2 Direct, not to mention every other big release in June, I didn’t think anything could surprise me. But Build A Rocket Boy swept me off my feet with MindsEye! It all started innocently enough, showing Mafia 3’s Alex Hernandez taking center stage in a captivating story trailer. However, it soon escalated into concerns about their marketing strategy, puzzles over the absence of Everywhere, and wondering if we’d finally get to see some actual gameplay.

Over the past week, I’ve been absolutely thrilled as the developer of MindsEye has tackled each and every one of my anticipations. They’ve unveiled a captivating trailer that offers a sneak peek into the game mechanics and gameplay. The adrenaline-pumping action we’ve glimpsed so far, with its blend of running, shooting, and driving, remains intact. But there are some exciting new additions on the horizon!

Robots have been introduced to the mix, adding a fresh layer of challenge. Space puzzles now await us, promising brain-teasing fun. There’s even a drone that tags along, ready to be upgraded for added excitement. And

This includes the introduction of new single-player modes, expansive free-roam updates, and a whole new universe known as Starstream. I can hardly wait to embark on this cosmic journey!

As a devoted fan, I must admit the sheer magnitude of what’s unfolding is staggering. The confirmation that Arcadia, the heart of Everywhere‘s creation, will be integrated into MindsEye is just mind-boggling. And then there’s the intriguing claim by co-CEO Mark Gerhard, suggesting all the game’s criticism is bankrolled by someone else (and it’s not hard to guess who). Now, an extensive interview with Leslie Benzies, game director and studio founder, published by GamesIndustry, has dropped some rather thought-provoking insights.

Initially, let me clarify that “MindsEye” serves as a mere introduction, a single chapter in an expansive cosmic saga. As Benzies put it, it’s situated right in the heart of this grand tale, with other stories taking place at various points in time (some potentially 10,000 years ago) and across diverse locations within the universe. The aim is to gradually expand this universe, ensuring that as you journey through, all the tales will be linked by a common overarching theme, and each story will have its unique gameplay mechanics.

To date, the vision appears quite ambitious, perhaps even excessively so. Yet, it provides valuable insight into what the Starstream universe might become. He emphasized that the studio remains committed to expanding MindsEye with fresh content, including races created purely for amusement. However, the majority of this content will be woven into the storyline. Remarkably, Benzies hinted that once you’ve experienced the grand ten-year plan, you’ll have a clear understanding of what this universe encompasses.

I don’t often find myself flinching at industry jargon from game creators such as quadruple-A, hero shooter, live service, or metaverse. However, the term “ten-year plan” strikes a different chord for me. To move forward, let’s explore further.

Following the release of MindsEye, Build A Rocket Boy intends not only to add multiplayer functionality, which is expected, but also to develop a comprehensive open-world environment. This environment will continue to provide tools for players to create their own content, and the developers aim to figure out how to incorporate this user-generated content into their future plans. Benzies expressed hope that some players might generate interesting content that could be promoted and integrated into the game, thus expanding its appeal to other users. However, it’s uncertain whether there will be any monetary compensation for these creators. While love for the game is essential, it’s worth noting that financial incentives might not always be a deciding factor in this context.

The aspect that catches my attention is the developer’s plan to launch an open-world multiplayer game next year, following on from the storyline of MindsEye. Additionally, they aim to release a free-roam title that continues from the end of MindsEye right up until the rollout of their open-world multiplayer offering. Given the talk about a larger connected universe, it’s unclear how much future stories within this world will cost. The answer is that the price will vary based on scale. Some of these stories might be free, while others will require payment. It appears likely that both the multiplayer and free-roam titles will carry a price tag.

By the way, you might find MindsEye an intriguing part of the game, as it’s a significant piece that could leave players wondering about the broader narrative. The developers deliberately withheld footage for large sections of the game to prevent spoilers, and they assure us that the story takes some unexpected turns.

Apart from the hints he’s already given, Benzies also emphasized that the content creation platform “Everywhere,” which was mentioned before “MindsEye” and seemed to be related to it, is still in existence. He suggested that “Everywhere” will resurface soon, as it is an integral part of a larger narrative – a significant overarching story. While he couldn’t disclose further details to avoid spoilers, Benzies indicated that everything related to “Everywhere” is connected and forms part of the same product.

I have numerous queries, but what perplexes me most is their ten-year strategy. For instance, take a developer such as Bungie and their franchise, Destiny, which was well-known for its ten-year plan that encompassed several sequels in partnership with Activision. They eventually terminated the publishing deal, released expansions of mixed quality, got bought by Sony, altered their content release strategy multiple times, and now appear to be teetering on the brink due to lackluster performance (not to mention the leadership issues, both rumored and confirmed).

343 Industries is also associated with Halo Infinite, a game that Chris Lee, former studio head, described as the beginning of the next decade for the Halo series, collaborating closely with fans and the community as they develop it. This statement was made following the disappointing campaign reveal at E3 2020, before the game’s postponement and Lee’s departure from the company.

Indeed, while Infinite continues to receive multiplayer updates, its campaign has been left unfinished. Later on, 343 Industries revealed their rebranding as Halo Studios, along with several new games in production and a transition to Unreal Engine 5. Despite any peculiarities, this is a developer backed by one of the most prominent, if not the most prominent, gaming publishers globally.

As a gaming enthusiast, I’ve dived into Anthem, BioWare’s venture into the realm of live-service looter shooters. Once led by Patrick Söderlund, now the CEO of Embark Studios (creators of ARC Raiders), he envisioned this as potentially a 10-year odyssey for BioWare. Launched in 2019, it was met with justified criticism, deviating from its original plans, abandoning seasons in 2020, and promising a rework that never materialized. Support ceased entirely in February 2021, yet the servers persist for those still invested.

The essence of the matter is this: If massive corporations struggle to stick with a decade-long project, how can Build A Rocket Boy possibly manage it? Although they boast three studios in various locations, their total workforce size remains undisclosed, and unlike them, they lack a major publisher offering support or financial safety. Additionally, despite ‘Everywhere’ being developed on Unreal Engine since 2020 (conceptualization dating back to 2016), there is still no confirmed release date.

It seems like there’s a possibility that I might be overestimating the impact of MindsEye, given its plans to repurpose assets, involve community creators, and expand in scope. The fate of the game is crucial, and I’m prepared to give it a chance. However, at $60, and with value being subjective, I’m uncertain if the gameplay and storytelling demonstrated so far will hold my interest for more than 20 hours or so. Considering other games released this month, that’s something worth considering.

Additionally, it’s worth noting that MindsEye effectively serves as the foundation for a live-service framework. The performance of recent projects in this domain has been disappointing at best, to say the least. Is MindsEye going to offer such an immersive and captivating experience that it will entice millions of players eager to unfold this epic storyline? Will they be prepared to delve into this open-world multiplayer sequel set for release next year, a time when Grand Theft Auto 6 is also scheduled, which boasts significant hype and likely a more comprehensive multiplayer environment?

It seems challenging to predict, but it appears Build A Rocket Boy is planning to develop a game similar to Fortnite without substantial backing, widespread popularity, or significant resources. At the moment, I’m not convinced they can pull it off. Perhaps they’re simply diversifying their investments – if MindsEye doesn’t work out, they might follow their current strategy, observe how recurring income unfolds, and if that fails, oh well. We’ll discover more after its launch on June 10th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. However, I’m intrigued to see where this venture takes us next.

Please take note that the opinions presented in this piece are solely those of the writer and may not reflect the perspectives of, or be endorsed by, GamingBolt as a collective entity. The article does not represent official views of the organization.

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2025-06-04 12:42