In a recent internal meeting, Leslie Benzies, head of MindsEye and founder of Build A Rocket Boy, suggested that “saboteurs” within the company were to blame for the poor reception of their latest game. This meeting took place in July, shortly after the game launched and received significant criticism. The BBC confirmed the details from the meeting.
Benzies expressed that the backlash was “uncalled for,” alleging that both internal and external factors sabotaged the launch. His comments came just a week after employees were informed about impending layoffs.
Reflecting on the internal climate, Benzies remarked, “I find it disgusting that anyone could sit amongst us, behave like this, and continue to work here.” However, employees shared their own views about the game’s shortcomings.
Jamie, a former employee, noted, “Leslie never decided what game he wanted to make. There was no coherent direction.” Ironically, while some cited lack of clear vision as an issue, others reported that Benzies was overly involved, often prioritizing his feedback—referred to as “Leslie tickets”—over other critical tasks. Ben Newbon, a former lead data analyst, stated, “The Leslie ticket had to be taken care of, no matter what else was happening.” He also mentioned that concerns raised by team members often went ignored. Margherita Peloso, another former employee, recalled getting laughed at for speaking up in meetings.
Crunch culture seemed to loom large in the lead-up to the game’s release, with many developers feeling the pressure and anticipating a negative response. Recently, MindsEye developers even signed an open letter addressing ongoing disrespect and mistreatment from studio executives.
In a statement, Build A Rocket Boy acknowledged the hard work and passion of their team and expressed sadness over the need for layoffs. They also took responsibility for the game’s launch, admitting it didn’t meet the community’s expectations.
Even before the game’s release, accusations about negative backlash floated around. Co-CEO Mark Gerhard mentioned in a Discord conversation that those criticizing the game were financially motivated, suggesting a “concerted effort” against the studio.
Interestingly, since the game’s launch, publisher IO Interactive has distanced itself from the project. CEO Hakan Abrak emphasized that IO Interactive will focus on publishing its own games internally moving forward.
The situation raises crucial questions about the internal dynamics within gaming studios. A survey by the International Game Developers Association from 2022 found that 50% of game developers reported feeling burnout due to overwork, shedding light on the broader issues of crunch culture in the industry. As gaming continues to evolve, balancing creativity with the mental well-being of developers becomes increasingly important.
This incident serves as a reminder of the complex factors affecting game development and the significant impact of management style on team morale and project outcomes.
