In a significant move reflecting growing discontent within the gaming industry, 93 current and former developers from Mindseye, a studio under Build A Rocket Boy, have united to express their concerns in an open letter. This collective voice criticizes management practices, particularly regarding layoffs and excessive overtime, while directly addressing industry veterans Leslie Benzies and Mark Gerhard, urging them to reconsider their treatment of staff.
Concerns Over Management Practices
The letter, organized by the IWGB Game Workers Union, highlights a troubling narrative surrounding Mindseye, which has recently been labeled one of the most notable video game flops of recent years. The studio’s ambitious project, Everywhere, aimed to deliver a high-quality user-generated content experience but has instead been marred by lackluster gameplay and numerous performance issues, resulting in its classification as one of the worst-reviewed games of 2025.
Following the game’s infamous launch, the studio initiated a redundancy process that has reportedly seen between 250 to 300 developers laid off. Remaining employees have managed to release minor updates for Mindseye, yet a planned collaboration with the Hitman series has been postponed, leaving many to question the studio’s future direction.
The open letter seeks to address what the authors describe as “longstanding disrespect and mistreatment” of staff. It places the blame for the game’s poor performance and subsequent layoffs squarely on the shoulders of studio management, alleging that the redundancy process was poorly executed. Specific grievances include:
- Confusion and distress caused by misinformation during the redundancy process.
- Dismissal notices issued with incorrect notice periods.
- Misallocation of team assignments leading to unfair performance evaluations.
These issues, the letter argues, may have led to the wrongful dismissal of numerous employees, further exacerbating the turmoil within the studio.
Demands for Change
In addition to addressing these critical issues, the letter outlines four key demands directed at the studio’s leadership:
- A public apology for the mistreatment of employees and appropriate compensation for those laid off.
- The option for remaining employees on redundancy notice to either fulfill their notice period or receive Payment in Lieu of Notice (PILON).
- A genuine, documented effort to improve workplace conditions and processes, including formal recognition of the IWGB as a trade union.
- A commitment to engage official external partners for any future redundancies to ensure fair treatment.
The letter concludes with a poignant appeal to Benzies and Gerhard, challenging their assertion that employees are treated as “family.” It poses a critical question: “Is this really how you treat your own?”
As the situation unfolds, PCGamesN has reached out to Build A Rocket Boy for comment, eager to understand the studio’s response to these pressing concerns.
