Build A Rocket Boy Closes Doors After MindsEye Flop

Build A Rocket Boy (BARB), the developer of the action-adventure game MindsEye, is reportedly on the verge of shutting down. Multiple employees have signaled their departure from the studio on LinkedIn, and reports indicate the company will close permanently. This development follows a troubled launch for MindsEye in June 2025, which led to some PlayStation users receiving refunds due to extensive bugs.

Following the game's initial release, BARB implemented several rounds of layoffs. Studio founder Leslie Benzies allegedly attributed the game's struggles to internal and external sabotage. Despite releasing an expansion and adding multiplayer and a soccer mode in the summer, the game's fortunes did not improve.

BARB also faced serious allegations earlier this year, with dozens of employees accusing the studio of installing invasive surveillance software without consent. The IWGB Game Workers Union stated that the software recorded individuals in their homes, exceeding standard monitoring practices.