Over 90 MindsEye Developers Sign Open Letter Criticizing Build A Rocket Boy Over Layoffs and Mismanagement

More than 90 current and former employees of Build A Rocket Boy have signed a public open letter condemning the studio’s leadership for “systemic mistreatment” and “disastrous handling” of layoffs following the commercial failure of MindsEye.

The letter, published through the UK-based Independent Workers of Great Britain (IWGB) Game Workers union, directly calls out founder Leslie Benzies and co-CEO Mark Gerhard for what employees describe as years of poor communication, sudden managerial changes, and widespread burnout that culminated in one of the most troubled game launches in recent memory.

A Letter Born Out of Frustration

The open letter follows a turbulent year for Build A Rocket Boy (BARB), which reportedly laid off between 250 and 300 staff members after MindsEye’s disappointing launch earlier this year. According to the letter, the mass redundancies were the direct result of “leadership refusing to listen to the workforce’s years of experience,” creating “confusion and distress” for employees across multiple departments.

“For years, you have expected employees to adapt to your every whim, with those in disagreement being shut down or cast aside,” the letter reads. “These layoffs happened because you repeatedly refused to listen to your workforce’s years of experience, resulting in one of the worst video game launches this decade.”

Employees also claim that misinformation during the redundancy process led to the wrongful dismissal of dozens of staff members, further worsening morale within the studio.

Mandatory Overtime and Unpaid Work

Among the most striking accusations in the letter is the claim that staff were forced into mandatory overtime for four months before the game’s release. Employees reportedly worked an extra eight hours a week, often without proper compensation. Although Time Off In Lieu was promised seven hours for every eight worked, many claim they were unable to use it due to continued “high-priority” tasks even after the game’s launch.

Union Demands

According to the union’s official release, employees are now demanding:

• A public apology and proper compensation for laid-off staff.

• An option for remaining employees under redundancy notice to take payment in lieu of notice.

• A commitment to using external partners in future layoffs to ensure fairness.

• A documented effort to improve workplace conditions, including recognition of the IWGB as a trade union.