Build A Rocket Boy cuts 170 jobs after MindsEye relaunch falters

Build A Rocket Boy cut about 170 employees this week, reducing its headcount to roughly 80. The layoffs are the studio’s third round of staffing reductions since the PS5 shooter MindsEye launched last summer.

MindsEye received poor reviews at release. The studio deployed several updates and announced a rework and relaunch plan. A patch released last week added a new story mission that the company presented as the start of larger changes.

Despite the updates and relaunch plans, player numbers and critical support did not recover. Industry contacts identify the game’s commercial and reputational performance as the primary factor behind the latest cuts. Internal sources say the layoffs were submitted this week and affected development and support staff across departments.

Company leadership described some internal problems as “corporate sabotage.” Unionized employees alleged the studio collected staff data for unclear purposes, raising questions about privacy and workplace practices.

People familiar with the matter put the studio’s post-cut headcount at about 80 employees. Build A Rocket Boy did not immediately provide details on the number of affected employees, severance arrangements, or the studio’s plans for the relaunch. It is unclear whether more layoffs or changes to the relaunch strategy will follow.

MindsEye launched as an open-world shooter for the PS5 last summer. Initial criticism targeted technical issues, design decisions, and player experience, and the studio prioritized patches and a larger rework to address those concerns.