An undisclosed number of employees have been laid off from Build a Rocket Boy, the developer behind the upcoming title MindsEye, according to multiple reports. The layoffs represent the latest workforce reduction for the studio founded by former Grand Theft Auto producer Leslie Benzies.
Details of the Workforce Reduction
Reports indicate that staff were informed of the cuts this week, though the total number of affected positions has not been officially disclosed. The company has not yet issued a public statement confirming the scope of the reductions.
Build a Rocket Boy had previously faced layoffs in 2024, when an earlier round of job cuts affected a portion of its workforce. The studio operates locations in Scotland, Hungary, and China, employing several hundred people across those sites prior to the latest reductions.
Context of the Studio and Its Projects
The company is currently developing MindsEye, a narrative-driven action adventure title published by IO Interactive’s new label. The game was first announced in 2023 and is expected to feature a storyline centered on a former military pilot searching for a lost entity known as Mindseye.
Beyond MindsEye, Build a Rocket Boy has also been developing Everywhere, a user-generated content platform that enables players to create and share their own game experiences. Everywhere launched in early access in 2023 for PC.
Industry watchers have noted that the layoffs come during a period of continued contraction across the video game sector. Multiple studios have announced workforce reductions in 2025, citing market consolidation and shifting development priorities.
Implications for the Industry
The cuts at Build a Rocket Boy follow a pattern of downsizing observed at other mid sized and large studios. The video game industry has seen tens of thousands of layoffs since 2023, with developers across all tiers facing job losses due to restructuring, project cancellations, and changing investor expectations.
For employees at Build a Rocket Boy, the uncertainty surrounding the extent of the layoffs adds to a broader climate of instability in game development. Analysts suggest that smaller and independent studios are particularly vulnerable during economic downturns in the sector.
Looking Ahead
Build a Rocket Boy has not announced any delays for MindsEye or Everywhere as a result of the layoffs. The studio continues to operate and develop both projects, with MindsEye still targeting a release later this year on PC and consoles.
Observers expect the company will release an official statement detailing the number of affected staff and any changes to its operational structure in the coming weeks. The broader video game industry will watch closely as more studios navigate the ongoing cycle of workforce adjustments.
Source: GamesIndustry.biz
