Build a Rocket Boy, the studio helmed by former Grand Theft Auto producer Leslie Benzies, is reportedly facing a significant round of layoffs as part of a broad internal restructuring effort. Multiple sources with knowledge of the situation say that the cuts span several departments across the studio’s international offices.

The news arrives amid growing uncertainty surrounding Everywhere, the studio’s ambitious and long-in-development debut title. Touted as a next-generation platform blending open-world exploration, narrative gameplay, and user-generated content, Everywhere has been in development since at least 2017. While anticipation remains high, the studio has shared few concrete updates in recent years, leaving many to speculate on its current status.

Reports of layoffs began to surface earlier this week, with affected employees taking to LinkedIn and other platforms to announce their sudden departures. Several noted that teams across art, engineering, and publishing have been hit, though exact numbers remain unconfirmed. Some insiders describe the restructuring as “significant” and “sweeping,” suggesting it may affect a large portion of the workforce.

This marks a troubling development for Build a Rocket Boy, which has positioned itself as a major new player in the AAA space. With offices in Edinburgh, Budapest, and other locations, the company attracted considerable attention early on for its star-studded leadership and bold creative vision. But as with many game studios over the past two years, rising development costs, changing market conditions, and shifting investor expectations appear to have taken their toll.

The layoffs at Build a Rocket Boy are part of a larger industry-wide trend that has seen over 20,000 jobs lost since the start of 2023. High-profile studios including Blizzard, Bungie, Naughty Dog, and CD Projekt have all announced staff cuts or project cancellations. Even platform holders like Microsoft and Sony have not been immune, with large-scale redundancies affecting Xbox Game Studios and PlayStation divisions alike.

As for Everywhere, its future remains unclear. The game was originally announced with lofty goals, including a metaverse-like approach to interactive entertainment and a heavy focus on community-driven content. But in the absence of consistent updates, some fans and observers are beginning to question whether the project can still deliver on its vision especially in the wake of these layoffs.

At the time of writing, Build a Rocket Boy has not released an official statement addressing the reports. Until then, the fate of the studio and its long-awaited debut title hangs in the balance.

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