Build A Rocket Boy reclaims MindsEye publishing rights from IOI Partners to initiate a major game relaunch following massive layoffs and ongoing investigations into alleged corporate sabotage campaigns
The separate venture between IOI Partners and Build A Rocket Boy has reached its final outcome. The Edinburgh based studio led by Leslie Benzies acquired complete publishing rights for MindsEye nearly nine months after its problematic launch. The partnership ends because both parties decided to stop their collaboration which started to distribute the futuristic shooter through international markets after the game launch failed to meet expectations.
The game MindsEye received numerous technical critiques when it released in June 2025. Players experienced major performance problems which included stuttering animations and console crashes and high end PC games with suboptimal performance. The development team worked on error patching but the project experienced a steep drop in both player retention and active rankings. The company had to implement major workforce reductions because its employee count declined from over 800 workers to an estimated 100 essential staff members by the end of 2026.
Mark Gerhard CEO and CTO of Build A Rocket Boy explained the business problems during his talks with GamesBeat. Gerhard confirmed that the leadership team holds total accountability for the game condition which existed at the time of release. The studio currently focuses on its relaunch plan which will use community input and make the game affordable for players. The developer aims to win back player confidence through regular game updates and clearer communication methods with players who had bad experiences during the first game release.
One of the more startling developments in this transition involves allegations of external interference. Gerhard has informed staff and authorities that the company uncovered evidence of a coordinated campaign designed to damage the reputation of MindsEye. The CEO reported that the suspected corporate sabotage operation involved spreading negative information about the studio by releasing confidential internal details which would damage the studio's financial position. Law enforcement agencies in the United Kingdom and the United States continue to investigate these claims.
Gerhard maintains that attackers executed their plan successfully because they created reliable evidence which proves their guilt despite critics who reject his accusation due to the multiple bugs discovered during the game launch. The ongoing investigations have reportedly identified involved parties, though the studio is refraining from further public comment until justice takes its course. The studio encounters additional difficulties while trying to establish itself as an independent organization because of the ongoing legal battle.
The studio will use its Arcadia toolset to build connections between MindsEye and Everywhere their second major project. The technology enables players to develop their own game content without needing advanced programming skills which Gerhard believes will make game development accessible to all. The upcoming Blacklist mission will introduce a new playable character and serves as part of a broader roadmap to revitalize the game through multiplayer updates and user generated content tools.
Leslie Benzies has returned to a more active role in the roadmap after taking a brief hiatus following the 2025 launch. The organization faces legal consequences from unions about past employee terminations yet executives work toward maintaining project viability through the current investigation. The studio believes that its decision to end all operations with IOI Partners will enable them to better serve their dedicated player base while they pursue stability which has remained unattainable since their game launched.
