Here's the rewritten version:
Build A Rocket Boy has initiated workforce reductions in the wake of MindsEye's problematic launch, with sources indicating over 100 positions may be eliminated across the studio.
An anonymous employee revealed to IGN that while exact numbers remain unclear, the company has started the mandatory 45-day UK consultation period - a legal requirement when considering 100+ redundancies within 90 days. The Edinburgh-based developer currently employs approximately 300 staff in the UK and 200 internationally.
Uncertain Future for Staff and Content Plans
Employees now face an agonizing wait to learn their fate, while serious doubts emerge about the studio's ability to deliver promised post-launch content, including the planned multiplayer component.
The developer recently acknowledged player frustrations with performance issues, bugs, and problematic AI behavior in a public statement, committing to ongoing fixes through a patch rollout that's currently underway.
MindsEye's disastrous debut saw canceled promotional streams and unprecedented refund approvals - even from typically strict platforms like PlayStation. Steam metrics show a dismal player retention rate, with concurrent users plummeting from 3,302 at launch to just 52 active players at press time, accompanied by overwhelmingly negative reviews.
From High Hopes to Hard Realities
Originally conceived as part of the ambitious Everywhere platform - pitched as an adult-oriented Roblox alternative by ex-GTA design lead Leslie Benzies - MindsEye ultimately became Build A Rocket Boy's primary focus. The pivot to this narrative-driven adventure title has failed to achieve commercial success for the Scottish studio.
In internal communications obtained by IGN, co-CEO Mark Gerhard affirmed ongoing support for MindsEye while signaling a transition from intensive development to sustained live operations. However, Gerhard previously made controversial claims about organized efforts to sabotage the game's reception, allegations promptly denied by IO Interactive's leadership.
Build A Rocket Boy declined to provide an official statement when contacted by IGN regarding the layoffs.
