MindsEye's Digital Phoenix Act: Cheaper Tickets, In-Game Sabotage, and a Curious Case of Missing Players
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
*MindsEye* is making a comeback bid with its "Blacklisted" update, which subtly points fingers at alleged internal saboteurs, and a permanent price cut, though its current Steam player count remains a rather lonely 26.
Alright, mates, buckle up because the digital wizards over at Build a Rocket Boy (BARB) are attempting a bit of an alchemy trick with *MindsEye*. Reckon they're hoping for a *Cyberpunk 2077*-level redemption arc, which, fair dinkum, is quite the aspiration considering *MindsEye*'s launch last year was less "epic sci-fi saga" and more "accidental teleportation into a digital void."
Now, you might recall BARB's CEO, Mark Gerhard, has been stirring the cauldron for a while now, blaming some alleged "internal saboteurs" for *MindsEye*'s initial spectacular face-plant. No proof has been flung our way, mind you, but it’s been a persistent whisper in the digital winds. Well, brace yourselves, because BARB's just dropped the "Blacklisted" update, and if the subtext were any less subtle, it'd be wearing a neon sign that says "I AM THE SUBTEXT!"
This new mission has you stepping into the sleek boots of Julia Black, a world-class assassin tasked with dismantling a network of ne'er-do-wells tearing a company apart from the inside out. Yeah, you get the vibe, right? It's like finding a cryptic message in a potion bottle – pretty on-the-nose commentary, if you ask me. Apparently, this mission actually started life as a *Hitman* crossover before IO Interactive pulled out, which explains why it feels like a mini-assassination sandbox, complete with different targets and the ability to wrap it up quicker than a wizard's nap. It's brief, but hey, at least it exists!
To sweeten the deal (and perhaps lure a few more curious souls into their digital labyrinth), *MindsEye* has also permanently slashed its price. The Standard Edition now clocks in at a slightly more palatable $34.99, with the Deluxe Edition at $47.99. A cheaper ticket to the show, indeed, but is it enough to get the crowds flocking?
Gerhard sounds pretty chirpy, mind, stating that "Blacklisted" is "just the beginning" and they plan to "expand" the game through their user-generated content platform, Arcadia. He's keen to welcome players back to Redrock City, touting "over a year of enhancements." And honestly, the idea of Arcadia, where players can brew their own content, is genuinely exciting! Imagine the emergent chaos! The digital mischief! The glorious, player-driven narratives!
But here's where my gently skeptical wizard-brain starts doing diagnostics: according to SteamDB, *MindsEye* currently boasts a grand total of... wait for it... 26 concurrent players on Steam. Twenty-six. That's less than a decent D&D party, mate. While console numbers are hidden, one has to wonder if "expanding" a game with such a tiny active community is more like shouting into the void than building a bustling new reality.
For those who missed the whole kerfuffle, *MindsEye* (originally envisioned for 2025, but launched last summer) was meant to be a big-deal action-adventure crime game, heavily influenced by the likes of *Grand Theft Auto*. And for good reason, too, as it was spearheaded by Leslie Benzies, a former boss at Rockstar North who basically oversaw the *GTA* series and *Red Dead Redemption*. After a bit of a spat and a confidential settlement with Rockstar, Benzies set up BARB, aiming for his own digital empire.
The outcome? Not quite the empire he envisioned, at least not yet. The game launched in a frankly horrendous state, riddled with comical bugs, gameplay that felt more like a tech demo, and a story that evaporated faster than a magic trick gone wrong. IGN even slapped it with a 4/10, noting it was "high on ambition but low on original ideas." Ouch.
And if that wasn't enough corporate drama for you, BARB's been in the news recently for staff reportedly suing them over alleged secret surveillance software installed on employee devices. Phew! That's a whole other layer of intrigue, isn't it? Makes you wonder if those "internal saboteurs" were just trying to evade the digital eye.
So, *MindsEye* is trying to rise from the ashes, armed with a new mission that winks at its own corporate drama, a lower price tag, and the promise of player-made wonders. It's a bold move, definitely. Will it work? Only time (and a few more than 26 players) will tell if this particular spell can turn things around. I'm optimistically chaotic enough to watch the sparks fly, even if I'm holding my breath for something genuinely game-changing.
*(Original source: IGN South Africa, article by Cade Onder)*
Tags: Web3 Gaming, Game Development, Industry News, Comeback Story, UGC
Original article: IGN South Africa