Just weeks after one of the most disastrous game launches in recent memory, Leslie Benzies (the man once hailed for his work on GTA) is back in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
His studio, Build a Rocket Boy (BARB), launched MindsEye in June 2025, and the backlash was immediate. The game was riddled with technical issues, lacking polish, and was broadly regarded as unfinished.
Now, instead of focusing on internal shortcomings, Benzies has told staff that unnamed "internal and external saboteurs" were behind the game’s failure, and he’s not giving up on the project just yet.
What’s the Plan for This So-Called Redemption Arc?
In a closed-door video call on July 2, Benzies addressed staff for the first time since the launch.
click to enlarge
+ 5He reportedly said the studio would be "relaunching" MindsEye in an effort to turn things around. That’s a bold move, considering the game's reception so far has been abysmal.
With some of the lowest review scores of the year and a rapidly dwindling player base—hovering below 50 active users on Steam—the game is far from the redemption story that Cyberpunk 2077 or No Man’s Sky eventually achieved.
How Bad Is the Situation Inside the Studio?
BARB is dealing with internal uncertainty as 300 UK employees were recently warned their jobs are at risk.
click to enlarge + 5This follows an official redundancy process that began in late June, as required under UK law when mass layoffs are planned.
The layoffs also impact staff at PlayFusion, a studio BARB acquired last year, which had its own game (Ascendant) in development.
The studio has attempted to downplay the situation, saying roles may be reassigned, but few are optimistic given the scale of the cuts.
What’s With the “Saboteurs” Narrative?
The use of “sabotage” as a scapegoat has drawn heavy criticism—not just from the press and players but also from within the industry.
click to enlarge + 5Co-CEO Mark Gerhard previously made similar claims in May, suggesting there was a “coordinated effort” to damage the game’s reputation before release, even pointing to possible bot activity flooding online communities with negative comments.
No evidence has been offered, and the publisher of Hitman, IO Interactive, flatly denied the idea that there was any foul play involved.
Both critics and fans see these claims as a way to avoid responsibility for bad leadership, sloppy development, and unclear creative vision.
Is a Comeback Even Possible Anymore?
Even if BARB makes it past the layoffs, the future doesn’t look promising.
click to enlarge + 5MindsEye was planned as the lead title for a new platform and a spiritual successor to the abandoned "Everywhere" project, which aimed to provide a sophisticated, open-world creative experience like Roblox but intended for adults.
That attempt didn’t produce results. The game’s mechanics were called outdated, its design uninspired, and even basic features like driving multiple cars in an open world were reportedly hard-coded or missing.
Several developers have expressed confusion as to how a game of this scale could have launched in such a state, given the years of buildup and funding behind it.
Is the Team Still Working on the Game?
Even with all that, updates continue as BARB rolled out its third major patch for consoles this week, and a PC version is on the way.
click to enlarge + 5The studio says it’s been closely watching player feedback and gameplay videos to identify critical issues and prioritize improvements. That shows a readiness to improve, but it’s uncertain how much can really be saved, especially with important staff possibly leaving soon.
MindsEye’s problem is not only technical but also that it has lost its sense of identity. It launched in a market already saturated with open-world games but brought very little new to the table.
Fixing bugs won’t solve design choices that felt outdated on arrival. Benzies’ promise of a redemption arc may be sincere, but sincerity isn’t enough without a game worth saving. Only time will tell if the relaunch is real or just a corporate promise.
Stick with us here at Gfinityesports.com: the best site for MindsEye coverage.
For more articles like this, take a look at our Gaming News page.