Developers at Build a Rocket Boy are planning a protest during an upcoming on-site playtest for their game, MindsEye. The demonstration is scheduled to occur at the studio's headquarters in Edinburgh while community members are invited to participate in the playtest. This action follows recent rounds of layoffs at the company.
The playtest event, announced by Build a Rocket Boy on Discord, offers to cover flights and accommodations for a select group of community members to visit the studio. However, the studio's employees, represented by the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB), view this as a misplaced expenditure. They allege that the company is spending significant funds on this fan event while the workforce has been substantially reduced.
A Town Spot post highlighted the developers' concerns, stating, "Build A Rocket Boy execs are spending thousands on an unnecessary playtest event after laying off over 400 staff over the last year." The IWGB has expressed similar sentiments, criticizing the studio's management. In a statement on Instagram, the union said, "BARB management are now desperately turning towards fans to save them," and suggested that the studio is delegating work to fans amidst a difficult job market in the game sector. The union also pointed to a recent decision to cut community team staff and hire a player without a formal interview process.
Further allegations from the union include claims of secret surveillance software on employee PCs, mishandled redundancies, and union blacklisting. The IWGB is currently involved in legal action against Build a Rocket Boy concerning these alleged practices, including the recording of employees without consent.
MindsEye, the game for which the playtest is being held, has had a tumultuous reception. While the base game has been described as having an "accidental good time" by some, its expansion, Blacklisted, was called "abysmally bad." Despite this, the game reportedly retains a $35 price point.
The protest is slated to take place on Saturday, July 11, with affected workers and supporters planning to gather outside the studio's offices. The IWGB confirmed its participation in the demonstration.