Workers at the MindsEye development studio, operated by Build a Rocket Boy, are planning to picket outside the company's Edinburgh offices on Saturday, July 11th. The protest targets an upcoming fan event where members of the game's community are invited to play an updated build of MindsEye. The demonstration is organized by employees who are critical of the studio's decision to fund this event.
This action comes after Build a Rocket Boy has undergone several rounds of layoffs. Over a year ago, following the release of MindsEye, the studio initiated a redundancy process that affected more than 100 employees. Further layoffs occurred in March after a significant update was shipped, and another 170 employees were let go in May after the release of a new campaign mission. This mission was framed by the studio as depicting alleged sabotage during MindsEye's development, with studio founder Leslie Benzies and co-CEO Mark Gerhard claiming "organised espionage and corporate sabotage" impacted the game.
In response to these alleged incidents, the studio reportedly installed invasive surveillance software called Teramind on employee devices, though it has since been removed. The Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB) Game Workers Union has alleged that this software violated employee data protection and privacy, leading the union to initiate legal action against Build a Rocket Boy in April.
Last October, a letter signed by 93 current and former employees, along with the IWGB union, was sent to studio leadership, outlining grievances regarding "longstanding disrespect and mistreatment." The planned picket on Saturday will see workers joined by members of the IWGB and other unions, as well as members of the public.