Build A Rocket Boy has announced further layoffs—the third round since MindsEye's launch—attributing them to industry woes and alleging organized espionage and sabotage. Co-CEO Mark Gerhard said the studio's investigation into these claims is progressing toward prosecution.
A month after touting a major 'reset' update for its open-world game MindsEye (see earlier coverage), Build A Rocket Boy revealed another wave of redundancies on March 5, 2026, via co-CEO Mark Gerhard's LinkedIn post. Describing the cuts as "deeply painful," Gerhard praised the affected employees' contributions.
MindsEye, launched in summer 2025, has struggled with bugs, poor reviews (PC Metacritic 38/100), and low player counts (current Steam peaks at 39). Despite patches, including February's seventh update that boosted recent reviews to 'mostly positive,' engagement remains low.
Gerhard cited "one of the most difficult periods" in gaming history, plus "factors beyond normal challenges," including criminal activity like organized espionage and corporate sabotage. The studio, working with legal advisors, reports the probe "moving toward prosecution," though evidence is not yet overwhelming.
These claims build on prior statements: founder Leslie Benzies cited internal/external saboteurs last year, and Gerhard referenced a "media manipulation cabal" and financed negativity. New details include January 2026 installation of monitoring software Teramind, which slowed tools; Gerhard promised its removal within three months during an all-hands, blaming a "1%" problem. He alleged a "very big American company" spent over €1 million on 2025 criminal acts against the studio.
Industry skepticism persists. Lead actor Alex Hernandez, facing backlash as the game's face, said: "I might never work in a game again." Future MindsEye updates continue amid uncertain legal outcomes.
