Bloody Hell, *MindsEye*! Developers Pen Damning Letter Against Studio Execs Over "Mistreatment" And A Disastrous Launch
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Developers behind the ill-fated *MindsEye* have dropped a bombshell open letter, accusing Build A Rocket Boy's execs of 'longstanding disrespect and mistreatment,' blaming them for the game's disastrous launch, widespread layoffs, and a truly chaotic work environment, all while demanding accountability and significant change.
Right, mate, have a seat, because I’ve been tinkering with this story all morning, and bloody hell, it’s wilder than it first appeared. You know that feeling when a grand, ambitious spell goes off like a damp firecracker, leaving a cloud of smoke and a distinct smell of regret? That's pretty much what happened with *MindsEye*, the debut game from Build A Rocket Boy (BARB), and now its developers are pulling back the curtain on the whole sorry saga.
Turns out, the chaotic launch wasn’t just a fluke, nor, apparently, was it the fault of some mythical online 'saboteurs' – a claim that, frankly, sounds like something a wizard would say when their potion exploded. No, according to nearly a hundred current and former employees, along with the good folks at the Game Workers Branch of the Independent Workers of Great Britain union, it boils down to something far more systemic: 'longstanding disrespect and mistreatment' from the very top. Fair dinkum, you can almost hear the collective eye-roll from here.
An open letter, signed by a hefty 93 individuals, has landed squarely on the desks of BARB's executive leadership. And let me tell ya, it doesn't mince words. It paints a picture that's less 'innovative game studio' and more 'chaotic bureaucracy,' culminating in a game launch described by the developers themselves as 'one of the worst this decade.' Ouch. That’s a serious punch to the gut, especially for a studio that promised to kickstart a grand 'user-generated metaverse' with *Everywhere*.
Now, here’s where the human story really kicks in, and trust me, it’s not pretty. The letter alleges that the execs simply 'refused to listen to your workforce's years of experience.' What followed? A wave of layoffs – an estimated 250-300 people across the company, according to the letter, losing their livelihoods. This, after putting years of their lives into a project that, let's be honest, didn't exactly set the world on fire.
Complaints? Oh, there's a laundry list. First up, a classic: a distinct lack of transparent communication. 'Information has been sparse and vague,' the letter claims, with 'radical changes' often dropped on staff with 'little or no input.' Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? It's like trying to navigate a dungeon with a map drawn on a napkin, in the dark.
Then there’s the ‘crunch.’ For four months leading up to launch, BARB apparently made an eight-hour mandatory overtime rule for *every single employee*. Eight hours! That’s an extra working day, every week, for a third of a year. And for their trouble? Time in lieu, but here’s the kicker: it was given back at a rate of seven hours for every eight worked. So, already short-changed, and many couldn't even claim *that* back due to 'continued requests for extra "high-priority" work.' That’s not time in lieu, mate, that’s just taking the piss. It’s a recipe for burnout, health issues, and, ultimately, a broken team. Which, surprise, surprise, is exactly what the letter describes.
And when the axe fell, it apparently landed with all the precision of a goblin juggling grenades. The handling of redundancies was ‘disastrous,’ causing ‘confusion and distress.’ Employees received misinformation, got dismissal notices with wrong notice periods (how does that even happen?), and were even put in the wrong teams, meaning their performances were scored by the wrong people. Seriously? That’s not just incompetence; that’s a special kind of chaotic mismanagement that borders on the absurd. Potentially, dozens of staff members could have been wrongfully dismissed because of this administrative nightmare.
There’s a particularly cutting line in the letter that absolutely deserves a spotlight: 'Mark Gerhard and Leslie Benzies, you often refer to your employees as "family". But we ask you to consider: is this really how you treat your own?' If ever there was a mic drop moment in a corporate letter, that’s it. Because if that's 'family' treatment, I reckon most folks would rather be adopted by a pack of feral ghouls.
The union, the IWGB Game Workers, has thrown its full weight behind the developers. Spring Mcparlin Jones, the chairperson, didn't mince words, calling the treatment ‘shocking’ and describing how workers were 'routinely belittled, cheated, and manipulated.' Scott Alsworth, the PR officer, hit the nail on the head, pointing out the ‘continued normalisation of millionaire executives scapegoating workers for their own mismanagement and profiteering.’ And let’s not forget former employee Ben Newbon’s insights into the ‘horrific mental and even physical illnesses’ caused by the relentless crunch, and how leadership blamed ‘saboteurs’ instead of taking responsibility.
Now, about that ‘user-generated metaverse’ vision – *Everywhere*. How on earth do you expect to build a thriving, collaborative, player-driven world when your own internal world is allegedly rife with disrespect and mismanagement? It’s a stark contrast between a shiny, aspirational future and a deeply troubling present. The irony, mate, is thick enough to cut with a butter knife.
The developers aren't just complaining; they're demanding change. They want a public apology and proper compensation for those laid off. They want remaining employees to have fair options regarding their notice periods. Crucially, they demand a 'concerted, meaningful, and documented effort to improve conditions and processes,' which includes acknowledging the IWGB as a trade union – a critical step towards genuine worker protection. And, for good measure, they want official external partners to handle any future redundancies, presumably to avoid another trainwreck of mismanagement.
This whole affair is a stark reminder that behind every game, even a critically panned one, there are real people pouring their hearts and souls into it. Their experience at BARB has been one of ‘burnout, job insecurity, health issues, and the failure of a game that many of us have put years of our lives into.’ It’s a sad tale, but the courage of these developers to stand together and speak out is genuinely inspiring. Will BARB's leadership finally listen? Or will they double down on the 'saboteurs' narrative? We'll be watching, keen as mustard, to see what happens next.
This dive into the *MindsEye* situation builds upon the diligent reporting by Ed Nightingale over at Eurogamer, whose original article, 'MindsEye developers sign damning open letter against studio execs over "longstanding disrespect and mistreatment" following game's disastrous launch,' brought this crucial story to light.
Tags: Game Development, Crunch Culture, Employee Rights, Studio Management, Gaming Industry
Original article: Eurogamer