MindsEye developer Build A Rocket Boy is reportedly shutting down
Build A Rocket Boy, the developer of the poorly received game MindsEye, is reportedly shutting down after several employees announced their departures on LinkedIn. The studio faced significant challenges following the disastrous launch of MindsEye in June 2025, which led to refunds and multiple rounds of layoffs. Founder Leslie Benzies attributed the game's failure to internal and external saboteurs, while recent updates failed to improve the title's reputation.
- ▪Build A Rocket Boy is reportedly closing its doors, with employees confirming their employment is ending.
- ▪The game MindsEye had a disastrous debut in June 2025, resulting in refunds and subsequent layoffs.
- ▪Founder Leslie Benzies blamed the game's poor performance on saboteurs inside and outside the company.
- ▪The studio released a spring expansion and added multiplayer modes in the summer, but these did not reverse the game's negative reception.
- ▪Employees accused the studio of installing invasive surveillance software on their devices without consent.
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| Original publisher | Engadget |
| Canonical URL | https://www.engadget.com/2260473/mindseye-developer-build-a-rocket-boy-is-reportedly-shutting-down/ |
| Publication time | Wed, 16 Sep 2026 17:47:51 +0000 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-09-16T17:53:41.609Z |
| Last seen | 2026-09-16T17:53:41.609Z |
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Basis: Derived from the published RSS/Atom feed. Contact: [email protected]. Reviewed: 2026-07-24.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Gaming MindsEye developer Build A Rocket Boy is reportedly shutting down Several employees have said they're leaving the studio. By Kris Holt Sept. 16, 2026 1:47 pm EST Build A Rocket Boy Add Engadget on Google: Preferred Source Google Discover Build A Rocket Boy (BARB), the developer of the widely maligned action-adventure game MindsEye, appears to be shutting down. Several employees wrote on LinkedIn that their time at the studio is "coming to an end," and Kotaku reported that BARB is set to close its doors for good. "With a very heavy heart I raise my green banner, along with the rest of my colleagues at Build a Rocket Boy.
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