Multiple developers have stated they have been laid off from MindsEye, a game developed by Build A Rocket Boy (BARB), raising further questions about the studio's future.
MindsEye, originally conceived as part of BARB's ambitious 'Everywhere' creation platform, shifted focus to become the studio's flagship title. The game launched in June 2025 to widespread criticism, with players describing it as "broken" and "buggy." Following the negative reception, BARB issued an apology and promised patches to address the significant performance issues, glitches, and AI bugs.
Studio head Leslie Benzies reportedly told staff that the studio would recover, attributing the game's struggles to "saboteurs" and other factors. CEO Mark Gerhard also mentioned an investigation into alleged "criminal activity" surrounding the launch.
These recent layoffs follow previous rounds of job cuts. In July of the previous year, around 300 UK-based staff received "at risk of redundancy" emails. Earlier this summer, laid-off employees protested outside the studio over an "all-expenses-paid playtest day."
Despite BARB's attempts to revive MindsEye with the "Blacklisted" update and subsequent patches, including a 50% Steam sale, player engagement has remained low. Console player numbers are not publicly available, but the game reached a peak of only 16 concurrent players on Steam within a 24-hour period.
The full extent of the current layoffs is unclear, though sources suggest the company might not be dissolved even if all employees are let go. BARB has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Leslie Benzies, a key figure in the development of Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto series, co-founded BARB. The studio attracted significant investment, reportedly exceeding £233 million ($313 million) by 2024. However, recent financial statements for the period ending September 30, 2025, revealed BARB generated £4.6 million ($6.1 million) in revenue against £52.1 million ($70 million) in operating costs, resulting in a net loss of £36.2 million ($48.6 million).
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick commented in May on the increasing difficulty of creating hit games, noting that "lots and lots" of developers, including former Rockstar employees, have attempted to replicate their success without achieving it.