Build A Rocket Boy Faces Administration Amid Layoffs and Criticism
- Build A Rocket Boy has filed for administration following recent layoffs.
- The studio’s first game, MindsEye, received negative reviews upon release.
- Reports indicate significant financial losses totaling £47.5m and £36.2m, with debts of £61.8m.
Build A Rocket Boy, the studio behind the 2025 shooter MindsEye, has filed for administration following reports of further layoffs. The company has often attributed its challenges to alleged ‘saboteurs’ within its ranks.
Founded in 2016 by Leslie Benzies, a veteran of the Grand Theft Auto series, Build A Rocket Boy announced its first game, Everywhere, in 2022. Originally, Everywhere was designed as a user-generated content platform aimed at transforming player interactions with both each other and the digital environment. However, MindsEye—initially part of Everywhere—transitioned into a standalone “AAA” title that was released in June 2023.
This launch proved disastrous, drawing harsh criticism from both players and critics. Studio CEO and CTO Mark Gerhard later characterized the game’s launch as “without doubt, the worst launch in history.” Following MindsEye’s release, the studio experienced a series of layoffs, and Gerhard has cited “organised espionage and corporate sabotage” as reasons for the studio’s difficulties. He asserted that a negative narrative had been deliberately shaped around the product.
Despite Gerhard’s commitment to support MindsEye, reports emerged last week indicating that additional layoffs had occurred and that the studio was preparing for closure. In the wake of these developments, Build A Rocket Boy has submitted an administration filing to the UK’s Companies House, currently unavailable to the public, and confirmed to GamesIndustry.biz that it has appointed Opus Advisory Group as administrators.
According to Companies House, entering administration provides a company with a “statutory moratorium” that protects it from creditor enforcement actions while attempts are made to salvage its operations. If the company cannot be saved, the administrator will seek to secure a better return for creditors than would be possible through liquidation.
In its financial disclosures, Build A Rocket Boy reported a £47.5 million operating loss and a £36.2 million net loss for the 12 months ending September 30, 2023. The studio’s debts stood at £61.8 million at that time.
Upon its launch, MindsEye received a one-star rating from Eurogamer, which critiqued it for its “ridiculous story, inconsistent writing, poorly designed mission scenarios, and utterly atrocious combat.”
News Courtesy of Eurogamer
