Build a Rocket Boy, the studio behind MindsEye, the most poorly received game of 2025 so far, has reportedly initiated a mass layoff process that could impact over 100 employees. According to a source from IGN, while the exact number of layoffs remains unclear, the studio has commenced a 45-day consultation period as of June 23. Under UK law, this consultation period is required when a company plans to lay off 100 or more employees, and with approximately 300 employees based in the UK, this would amount to a significant portion of the workforce. 
The studio also has around 200 employees outside the UK, meaning the impact could be even greater.
The situation comes in the wake of MindsEye’s disastrous launch, which was marred by technical issues, unfulfilled promises, and negative reception. Prior to the game’s release, there were signs that the launch wouldn’t go smoothly. Content creators’ lukewarm previews, internal turmoil within the studio, and troubling departures of key executives set the stage for what would be a troubled release. The game suffered from technical flaws, with high-end PCs struggling to run it, while PlayStation 5 players demanded refunds due to poor performance and misleading marketing claims.
The game, which was expected to run at 60 FPS on PS5 Pro, is currently locked at 30 FPS, leading to backlash from both players and critics alike. Following the official release on June 10, the studio acknowledged the disappointing launch, expressing its heartache over the issues players encountered. Although two patches have been released since, technical performance remains problematic, with Digital Foundry labeling it as having “abject technical performance.”
In the midst of all this, there are also rumors circulating about Build a Rocket Boy’s use of bots to post fake positive reviews in an attempt to counteract the negative feedback. However, the studio has denied these allegations. Whether or not this has had any effect on the game’s sales is still unknown, but with mass layoffs now a possibility, it’s clear that MindsEye’s commercial performance has fallen short of expectations.
Another major concern now looms over the future of Build a Rocket Boy’s flagship project, Everywhere. MindsEye was originally intended to serve as a showcase for the studio’s larger platform, which would allow players to create and share their own content. With MindsEye failing to meet expectations, it raises questions about whether Everywhere will ever see the light of day. The original vision for Everywhere was that it would be powered by MindsEye, but with this project now in jeopardy, it’s unclear whether the studio will survive long enough to fulfill its ambitions. If the company does go under, it will mark the end of what was once seen as a promising new entrant into the gaming industry.
Although it’s still possible that Build a Rocket Boy could turn things around, it seems increasingly unlikely that MindsEye will experience a revival on the scale of titles like No Man’s Sky. For now, the studio’s future remains uncertain, with the outcome largely dependent on how it handles the aftermath of this disastrous launch and the impact it has on its workforce.