The Scottish development house Build a Rocket Boy has once again entered the headlines, this time for a fresh round of staff reductions. The studio, which has been wrestling with the fallout from its ambitious action‑adventure title MindsEye, appears to be tightening its belt as the game continues to falter in the market. MindsEye debuted in June 2025 to a lukewarm reception. Early adopters quickly reported a litany of technical problems, ranging from persistent bugs to severe performance drops on both console and PC platforms.
The launch was further marred by the abrupt cancellation of a series of sponsored marketing streams that had been promised to showcase the game’s features. Critical reviews echoed the community’s disappointment, describing the experience as unfinished and under‑cooked. In the weeks that followed, the developers scrambled to patch the most glaring issues and even rolled out a free starter‑pack trial across all platforms in November, hoping to entice new players and salvage the title’s reputation. Despite these remedial efforts, the financial strain proved too great.
Shortly after the initial release, the studio let go of roughly 300 members of its development team. Those layoffs were only the first wave; additional redundancies were confirmed earlier in the year as the company struggled to balance its books. In February, Build a Rocket Boy attempted to shift the narrative by announcing a "new phase of ongoing development" for MindsEye, marking the first substantial public relations push since the game’s troubled debut. The following month, a publishing agreement between IOI Partners – the publishing arm of IO Interactive – and Build a Rocket Boy was finalized, suggesting a possible lifeline for the beleaguered project.
Now, according to reporting from IGN, further cuts have been confirmed. Several current and former employees have come forward, indicating that more staff members have been let go, though the exact numbers remain unclear. Among those who publicly disclosed their departure is Dan Hawkins, the studio’s principal talent acquisition partner and head of HR operations. Hawkins used his LinkedIn profile to announce his exit, writing a heartfelt note that read, "With a very heavy heart I raise my green banner, along with the rest of my colleagues at Build a Rocket Boy." In his farewell message, Hawkins reflected on his nearly five‑year tenure at the company, noting that he was the first hire for the internal recruitment team and had helped the studio grow from a modest 200‑person operation to a mid‑size team of roughly 550 employees.
He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to collaborate with a multitude of talented individuals, stating, "It has been an honour to work alongside so many talented people, far too many to mention!" Hawkins also indicated that he would remain with the HR department until the very end of the wind‑down process, while simultaneously signaling openness to new opportunities both within and outside the gaming sector. A source familiar with the internal dynamics of Build a Rocket Boy told IGN that, even if the remaining workforce is eventually dissolved, the studio itself might not be formally shut down. The implication is that the company could be kept as a legal entity for potential future projects, asset sales, or acquisition by another publisher. When approached for comment, Build a Rocket Boy declined to provide an official statement, leaving the industry to speculate about the studio’s ultimate fate.
The turmoil has not gone unnoticed by the broader community. In July, a group of former and current employees staged a protest outside the studio’s Edinburgh headquarters. Demonstrators voiced their frustration over what they described as an "all‑expenses‑paid" fan event that the company organized, arguing that such a celebration was tone‑deaf given the scale of recent layoffs. The protest highlighted the growing discontent among staff who feel that management’s decisions have prioritized publicity over the well‑being of the workforce.
The ongoing saga of Build a Rocket Boy underscores the harsh realities of modern game development, where ambitious projects can quickly become financial liabilities if they fail to meet consumer expectations. MindsEye’s troubled launch serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of thorough quality assurance, realistic marketing promises, and the need for contingency planning when a title underperforms. For the developers caught in the crossfire, the experience has been a sobering lesson in the volatility of the industry. Looking ahead, the future of both the studio and MindsEye remains uncertain.
If the latest round of layoffs proves insufficient to stabilize the company’s finances, further restructuring—or even a complete shutdown—could be on the horizon. Conversely, the partnership with IOI Partners may provide a pathway to revive the game through additional funding, re‑branding, or a shift in development focus.
Until a definitive announcement is made, employees, investors, and fans alike will be watching closely, hoping for a resolution that preserves jobs and gives MindsEye a chance to redeem itself in the competitive gaming market.