MindsEye developer Build a Rocket Boy may finally be closing
Build a Rocket Boy, developer of the troubled action-thriller MindsEye, appears to be shutting down after multiple rounds of layoffs reportedly let go all remaining staff.
Build a Rocket Boy (BARB), the studio behind the critically panned 2025 release MindsEye, is reportedly closing after employees confirmed on LinkedIn that all remaining staff are being laid off. The studio had previously blamed poor reception on sabotage, a claim that strained relations with publisher IO Interactive, which distanced itself from the project. Despite continued updates and an expansion promising evidence of interference, BARB faced repeated layoffs and allegations of mismanagement and unauthorized employee monitoring, signaling an inevitable decline in the competitive gaming industry.
Multiple employees, including lead weapon artist Adam Ridsdale and principal talent acquisition partner Dan Hawkins, posted LinkedIn updates confirming their redundancies, with Hawkins noting he would assist in winding down operations. Senior VFX artist Jason Waller also confirmed his role was being made redundant, while Rockstar veteran Stuart Ross, head of audio at BARB, was among those let go. The studio has not issued a public statement regarding the reported shutdown, but the pattern of departures strongly suggests the end is near.
The layoffs follow BARB’s troubled history since MindsEye’s release, which was marred by poor reviews despite the studio’s insistence on a sabotage narrative. An expansion intended to provide evidence of interference failed to deliver, further eroding confidence. The studio’s repeated rounds of layoffs and internal disputes with IO Interactive contributed to its deteriorating standing, making survival in the gaming industry increasingly unlikely.
BARB’s closure would mark the end of a studio that once positioned itself as a victim of external interference but ultimately succumbed to internal mismanagement and industry pressures. The absence of a public statement from the company leaves the finality of the shutdown unconfirmed, though employee accounts strongly indicate the studio has ceased operations. The gaming community and industry observers will await any official response from BARB regarding the reported closure.