Build a Rocket Boy, the studio behind the troubled third-person action game MindsEye, appears to be on the verge of shutting down following a new wave of layoffs. Social media posts from former employees suggest the company may be ceasing operations.
Dan Hawkins, a principal talent acquisition partner at Build a Rocket Boy, stated on LinkedIn that he would be "seeing BARB through till the very end, helping wrap things up here in the HR department," indicating an imminent closure. This sentiment was echoed by Lead 3D weapon/prop artist Adam Ridsdale, who confirmed he is facing redundancy. Release manager Michaela Emslie also shared that she received her redundancy notice after four years with the studio.
Build a Rocket Boy has not yet issued a public statement regarding the extent of these layoffs. Polygon has reached out to the company for clarification.
MindsEye experienced a difficult launch in June 2025, which led to earlier layoffs and its inclusion on lists of the worst games of that year. The game received a significant update in early 2026, preceding another round of layoffs. These subsequent layoffs occurred amidst allegations of "espionage and corporate sabotage" made by the studio's co-CEO, which reportedly formed the basis for the game's DLC. Previously, Build a Rocket Boy staff had sued the studio over privacy violations and protested alleged misconduct outside the company premises in July while the studio hosted a fan playtest.