The Scottish development house Build a Rocket Boy has reportedly embarked on a fresh round of layoffs, deepening concerns about the future of its flagship title, MindsEye. The game, which debuted in June 2025, was met with a lukewarm reception from both critics and players.
Early adopters quickly flagged a litany of technical problems, ranging from persistent bugs to severe performance drops on several platforms. In addition, the studio’s last‑minute cancellation of several sponsored marketing streams further eroded confidence, and review scores reflected the disappointment, hovering well below expectations for a high‑budget action‑adventure experience.
In the wake of this troubled launch, Build a Rocket Boy began trimming its workforce, initially letting go of roughly 300 developers shortly after MindsEye hit the market. Those cuts were followed by additional redundancies earlier in the year, signaling ongoing financial strain. Despite the shrinking headcount, the studio continued to push patches and updates, most notably rolling out a "free starter pack" trial across all platforms in November, an effort to rekindle interest and attract new players.
February brought a brief glimmer of optimism when the company announced a "new phase of ongoing development" for MindsEye. This communication marked the first substantial public relations effort since the game’s debut, aiming to reassure the community that the project remained alive and evolving. In March, a publishing agreement was finalized between Build a Rocket Boy and IOI Partners, the publishing arm of IO Interactive, cementing a partnership that was expected to provide additional resources and distribution support. However, the optimism proved short‑lived.
According to reports from IGN, multiple employees have now confirmed that they have been let go as part of this latest reduction wave. The precise scale of the layoffs remains unclear, but the impact is palpable across the studio’s various departments.
One of the most visible departures is that of Dan Hawkins, who served as the principal talent acquisition partner and head of HR operations. Hawkins announced his exit on LinkedIn, posting a heartfelt message that resonated with many former colleagues.
"With a very heavy heart I raise my green banner, along with the rest of my colleagues at Build a Rocket Boy," he wrote, underscoring the emotional weight of the situation. In his farewell note, Hawkins reflected on his five‑year tenure at the company, describing his role as the first hire for the internal recruitment team and highlighting the rapid growth he helped facilitate—from a modest staff of 200 to a peak of 550 employees in a short span. He praised the talent he had the privilege to work alongside, noting that the list of remarkable individuals was too extensive to enumerate fully. Hawkins also indicated his willingness to stay involved during the transition, stating that he would continue to support the HR department until the very end of the winding‑down process.
Simultaneously, he expressed openness to new opportunities, both within the gaming sector and beyond, signaling a desire to apply his recruitment expertise to other growing enterprises. A source familiar with the internal dynamics of Build a Rocket Boy told IGN that, even if the remaining staff were eventually let go, the studio itself might not be formally dissolved. This suggests that the company could be preserved as a legal entity, perhaps to manage existing assets, intellectual property, or to facilitate a potential sale or merger in the future.
The studio has not responded to requests for comment, leaving many questions unanswered. The fallout from the layoffs has also manifested publicly. In July, a group of former Build a Rocket Boy employees staged a protest outside the company’s Edinburgh headquarters.
Demonstrators voiced their discontent over an "all‑expenses‑paid" fan event that the studio had organized, arguing that such a celebration was tone‑deaf given the magnitude of the recent staff cuts. The protest highlighted the tension between management’s attempts to maintain community engagement and the harsh reality faced by the workforce. The broader industry context adds further nuance to Build a Rocket Boy’s predicament.
The gaming market has become increasingly competitive, with players expecting high‑quality experiences and developers facing mounting pressure to deliver polished products on tight schedules. When a title like MindsEye fails to meet these expectations, the financial repercussions can be swift and severe, often forcing studios to make difficult staffing decisions.
Moreover, the reliance on external publishing partners, such as IOI Partners, can be a double‑edged sword. While such collaborations can provide essential funding and distribution channels, they also introduce additional expectations and performance benchmarks. Failure to meet these benchmarks can strain the relationship, potentially leading to reduced support or even contract termination, further jeopardizing a studio’s stability. Looking ahead, the fate of Build a Rocket Boy hinges on several variables.
If the studio can successfully overhaul MindsEye, address its technical shortcomings, and rebuild consumer trust, there may be a path to recovery. However, this would likely require significant investment, both in terms of talent and resources—assets that are currently scarce due to the ongoing layoffs. Alternatively, the company might explore options such as selling its intellectual property, merging with another developer, or pivoting to a different project altogether.
Each of these routes carries its own set of challenges and uncertainties, but they represent potential lifelines for a studio teetering on the edge. In the meantime, the human element remains at the forefront.
Employees who have been let go face the daunting task of finding new positions in an already tight job market, while those who remain must navigate an atmosphere of uncertainty and reduced morale. The public protests and heartfelt social media posts serve as a reminder that behind the headlines are real people whose livelihoods and professional identities are deeply intertwined with the studio’s fortunes.
Ultimately, the story of Build a Rocket Boy illustrates the precarious balance between creative ambition and commercial viability in the modern gaming industry. As the company confronts this latest wave of layoffs, the industry will be watching closely to see whether it can rebound, transform, or become another cautionary tale of a promising studio undone by a troubled launch and the unforgiving economics of game development.