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Game Dev Drama: Layoffs, Sabotage Claims Erupt
18 Mar
Summary
- Build A Rocket Boy (BARB) is now solely publishing MindsEye.
- A planned Hitman collaboration for MindsEye has been cancelled.
- Employees accused leadership of mismanagement and sabotage claims.
Build A Rocket Boy (BARB), the development studio behind the game MindsEye, has officially parted ways with its co-publisher, IOI Partners. BARB will now assume sole publishing responsibilities for MindsEye.
This separation has led to the cancellation of a planned crossover mission between MindsEye and the Hitman franchise, which was initially announced in June 2025. The companies acknowledged that this news may disappoint fans and expressed gratitude for community support.
The development of MindsEye has been fraught with challenges. The game faced criticism upon release for bugs, a weak narrative, and uninspired gameplay. Simultaneously, employees penned an open letter alleging mismanagement and mishandled layoffs by BARB's co-CEOs.
In response to these allegations, Benzies and co-CEO Mark Gerhard suggested that negative pre-release feedback was a result of sabotage. Employees reportedly expressed skepticism regarding these claims. BARB now faces the significant task of revitalizing MindsEye, especially following recent workforce reductions.
