In a dramatic twist to one of this year’s most talked-about flops, Build a Rocket Boy CEO Leslie Benzies has announced that MindsEye the high-profile narrative shooter that crashed and burned upon release will be “relaunched” in the future. The announcement comes amid sweeping layoffs at the studio and stunning claims from leadership that “internal and external saboteurs” are to blame for the game’s disastrous reception.

From Hype to Heartbreak

Originally pitched as a cinematic open-world shooter embedded within the Everywhere platform, MindsEye launched to widespread criticism. The game was plagued by performance issues, game-breaking bugs, and an overwhelmingly negative critical reception. It currently holds a Metacritic score of 38 and sits with “Mostly Negative” reviews on Steam.

Within days of release, both Sony and Epic issued mass refunds something rarely seen on this scale. For many, it appeared MindsEye was dead on arrival.

Sabotage Allegations

But in a July 2 all-hands video meeting, Benzies told staff that the company would “bounce back” and relaunch the title. He blamed the game’s reception not only on technical shortcomings but on deliberate sabotage. Co-CEO Mark Gerhard had previously made similar remarks in May, alleging a “coordinated effort” to damage the game’s reputation, including claims of “sponsored bot campaigns.”

These comments have sparked controversy, with industry leaders including IO Interactive CEO Hakan Abrak expressing skepticism. “I don’t believe that people were paid to tank this game,” Abrak told Danish media outlet P1. “You can’t blame ‘saboteurs’ when the product just isn’t ready.”

Internal Turmoil

While public attention has focused on MindsEye’s reception, behind the scenes Build a Rocket Boy is undergoing its own crisis. The company recently entered a redundancy consultation process in the UK, putting around 100 jobs at risk. The total number of layoffs across its global workforce could exceed 300.

Some employees reportedly received layoff notices just hours after the “sabotage” call, adding to a growing sense of instability at the company.

The Relaunch Plan

Despite the turmoil, Benzies appears optimistic about MindsEye’s future. “We are learning, adapting, and coming back stronger,” he said in the staff meeting. Sources claim the studio is exploring ways to overhaul the core gameplay systems and implement major performance updates ahead of a potential re-release later this year or early 2026.

While comparisons have been drawn to Cyberpunk 2077 and No Man’s Sky both games that recovered after rough launches the challenges for MindsEye may be more fundamental. Critics weren’t just put off by bugs; they lambasted the game’s dated mission design, generic writing, and confusing structure tied to the Everywhere hub platform.

Can MindsEye Be Saved?

Whether or not a relaunch can save MindsEye remains to be seen. The tech and resources behind Build a Rocket Boy are considerable Benzies is a former Rockstar North president and a key architect of Grand Theft Auto V but goodwill is running out.

Players aren’t just waiting for patches. They’re waiting for accountability, transparency, and a reason to believe in a game that promised the stars and delivered a crash landing.

Stay tuned for more updates as Build a Rocket Boy attempts one of gaming’s most ambitious comebacks.

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