Build a Rocket Boy Shuts Down Permanently
Build a Rocket Boy, the studio founded by Leslie Benzies and Mark Gerhard and known for the much‑criticized MindsEye, is closing its doors for good. The company has endured multiple rounds of layoffs, a collective grievance filed by the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain, and allegations of excessive crunch and unlawful employee monitoring, making its saga one of the most controversial in recent memory.
Over the past 24 hours, several staff members have announced on LinkedIn that their time at the studio is ending. Level designer Liam Shannon, QA analyst Elizabet Tyaneva, release manager Michaela Emslie, and production QA analyst Cameron Deaves all said their employment is “coming to an end.”
Dan Hawkins, Build a Rocket Boy’s principal talent acquisition partner, posted on LinkedIn that, “with a very heavy heart I raise my green banner, along with the rest of my colleagues, I’ll be helping BARB through till the very end as the studio winds down permanently.” He added that he is “Open to Work” and eager to hear about any opportunities, inside or outside the games industry.
Kotaku has confirmed the permanent shutdown after reaching out to the studio for comment. The closure marks the end of a turbulent journey that attempted, without success, to turn MindsEye into a commercially viable title.
