Build A Rocket Boy, MindsEye Developer, Is Reportedly Closing
The studio behind MindsEye is said to be winding down permanently following a round of redundancies.
Build a Rocket Boy
Build a Rocket Boy, the development studio behind MindsEye, is reportedly closing.
It’s still unclear whether the studio is going through a major round of layoffs or is shutting down for good. However, sources familiar with the matter told Kotaku that Build a Rocket Boy is winding down permanently, while multiple employees have publicly announced that their time at the studio is coming to an end.
Several Build a Rocket Boy employees have also shared posts on LinkedIn saying they are looking for new opportunities. Production QA Analyst Cameron Deaves said his time at the studio was coming to an end, while Technical Level Designer Robert Meek wrote that he, "much like others at BARB," is now looking for a new job. Lead QA Analyst Sandy Greig and Level Designer Liam Shannon have also shared that they are seeking new opportunities, with Shannon referring to the "latest round of redundancies at BARB."
Build a Rocket Boy
The IWGB Games Worker Union issued a statement to Rock Paper Shotgun from vice-chair Ben Newbon, saying that the union "cannot add any further insight into the heartbreaking job losses at BARB" and noting that "hearing of redundancies is always an injustice."
"We cannot add any further insight into the heartbreaking job losses at BARB, a company that we think has been slowly spiralling for a long time.
We came together to fight tooth and nail to prevent the hardworking people working there from such a fate after pouring their heart and soul into Minds Eye. We are proud of what we built there but still hearing of redundancies is always an injustice.
We offer nothing but solidarity and support to everyone impacted by any job losses and remain committed to getting justice for BARB management's treatment of workers and organising to root these practices out of the video games industry. Only by joining and becoming active in a trade union can we achieve these goals."
Build a Rocket Boy was created by Leslie Benzies, a GTA producer. The studio's cyberpunk narrative-driven thirs-person shooter, MindsEye, launched to a largely negative reception, followed by a round of layoffs. In response, the studio's employees wrote an open letter addressed to the company's executive leadership, demanding a public apology for mistreatment of employees, proper compensation for laid-off workers, and other guarantees.
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