Build a Rocket Boy is making further redundancies, blaming the games industry’s “difficult period” and “corporate sabotage.”
In a statement from CEO Mark Gerhard and posted to LinkedIn, the studio acknowledged it was “a deeply painful decision” to cut staff, and once again alleged “organized espionage and corporate sabotage” had impacted the release of its latest game, MindsEye.
“As leaders we take responsibility for the outcomes of our projects and the decisions that follow. At the same time, the launch period was affected by factors beyond normal operational challenges and a competitive environment.
“Over the past months we have been working with external partners and legal advisors to investigate the criminal activity that took place around our launch,” the statement continued. “That work has taken far longer than expected, but it has now resulted in overwhelming evidence of organised espionage and corporate sabotage affecting MindsEye. Because this matter is moving toward prosecution, we cannot share the full details publicly yet.”
The statement claims the investigation has progressed, and the team has “worked relentlessly to evolve the game and to serve out players,” adding: “I am incredibly proud of the dedication and resilience out developers have shown.”
However, the impact of that “difficult launch” has led to the “brutal and heartbreaking step of reducing the size of the studio once again to ensure the long-term future of the company and the projects [it continues] to build.”
Gerhard’s statement concludes: “To everyone affected: thank you. Your work and creativity helped shape this studio and we will do everything we can to support you in finding your next opportunity.
“My thoughts today are first and foremost with the people leaving the team. We will also be sharing details of affected team members with communities that actively support developers during transitions, to help connect people with new opportunities.”
It’s thought that around 300 Build a Rocket Boy developers were laid off last June.
MindsEye was poorly received on launch, with players reporting bugs and performance issues, last-minute cancellation of sponsored marketing streams, and dismal reviews. The developer laid off staff soon afterwards, but has continued to push out updates to the game. It released a “free starter pack” trial on all platforms in November.
Just last month, Build a Rocket Boy announced a “new phase of ongoing development” for MindsEye, marking the company’s first notable PR push since the game’s launch in June, arriving alongside fresh controversy around the studio’s founder, Leslie Benzies, who was named in the Epstein files recently released by the US Justice Department. An email from an unnamed person alleged to be a Jeffrey Epstein victim accused Benzies of sexual assault, which Benzies denied.