Summary
The video game studio Build a Rocket Boy, led by Leslie Benzies, faced challenges after releasing their first game, MindsEye, which was poorly received. Benzies, who previously worked on the successful Grand Theft Auto series, blamed both internal and external forces for the game's failure. Employees at the studio, however, attributed the problems to mismanagement and frequent, unconsulted changes by leadership.
Key Facts
- Build a Rocket Boy released a sci-fi game called MindsEye that received negative feedback from players and critics.
- Leslie Benzies, the studio's boss, accused "internal and external" agents of sabotaging the game's release.
- Employees, who were previously informed of potential job cuts, doubted Benzies's claims and pointed to leadership issues as the cause for failure.
- Benzies is known for his key role at Rockstar Games, especially in the development of the Grand Theft Auto series.
- The studio, founded by Benzies in 2016, has offices in multiple cities and had 448 employees by 2024.
- Build a Rocket Boy received over £233 million in investments but also reported significant financial losses.
- Former employees criticized studio management for making sudden, unconsulted decisions.
- An open letter by employees claims leadership frequently ignored feedback from their experienced team.
