MindsEye Developers Speak Out: Open Letter Reveals ‘Longstanding Disrespect’ by Studio Execs After Game’s Disastrous Launch

Employees at Build A Rocket Boy, the studio behind the troubled game MindsEye, have expressed their frustrations through an open letter. A total of 93 current and former staff members, supported by the Game Workers Branch of the Independent Workers of Great Britain, signed the letter criticizing what they describe as “longstanding disrespect and mistreatment.”

The game’s launch this year was marred by issues, leading to a wave of layoffs. It’s reported that around 250-300 employees may have lost their jobs. The letter states that the high number of layoffs stems from poor management decisions and a lack of communication with staff. It reads, “These layoffs happened because you repeatedly refused to listen to your workforce’s years of experience, resulting in one of the worst video game launches this decade.”

Several employees have pointed to mandatory overtime as a significant source of stress. They worked eight hours of extra time every week, yet many have not received the time off they were promised due to ongoing “high-priority” projects. Other complaints include misleading information regarding redundancy notices, leading to confusion and more stress among workers.

An essential voice in this conversation comes from Spring Mcparlin Jones, chairperson of IWGB Game Workers, who said, “The treatment that workers at Build A Rocket Boy have faced in the past year has been shocking.” Many staff have reported feeling belittled and manipulated, despite dedicating years to the studio.

Experts in workplace management note that such environments often lead to burnout and declining mental health. A recent survey by the International Labour Organization revealed that job stress affects over 25% of employees globally, impacting not just their work but their overall well-being. This highlights the importance of good management practices and worker support in the gaming industry, particularly as it deals with complex projects.

Among the specific demands in the letter, the employees ask for a public apology, fair compensation for those laid off, and a commitment to improving workplace conditions. They also want acknowledgment of the IWGB as a legitimate trade union, highlighting the need for better representation in the workplace.

Despite the backlash, some executives at Build A Rocket Boy appear to have deflected responsibility. Co-CEO Mark Gerhard suggested that negative reviews were the result of a “concerted effort” to harm the studio, rather than acknowledging the internal issues that contributed to the game’s failure.

The situation reflects a troubling trend in the gaming industry where workers are often blamed for the repercussions of company mismanagement. Historical data shows that labor unrest in industries often leads to significant changes in policy and worker treatment, suggesting that this may be a pivotal moment for the studio and the broader gaming community.

As feedback and support for the employees continue to grow online, many hope that this will spur meaningful change within Build A Rocket Boy and across the gaming industry. Past situations, like the infamous crunch culture seen at other studios, have led to calls for better work-life balance and treatment of employees. Whether this letter ignites similar conversations remains to be seen, but the commitment to unity among workers is clear.

For more information on the broader implications of workplace policies in the gaming industry, you can check out the full report from the International Labour Organization [here](https://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/newsroom/news/WCMS_765763/lang–en/index.htm).

Source link