The development studio behind MindsEye, Build a Rocket Boy, has reportedly been hit by another wave of redundancies. According to reports from Kotaku, this latest round of cuts marks the third time the studio has faced significant layoffs within a single year.

A Massive Reduction in Staffing

While Build a Rocket Boy has yet to issue an official public statement regarding the recent news, industry insiders have provided grim details about the scale of the cuts. Reports indicate that approximately 170 staff members have been impacted by these latest redundancies.

The fallout has left the studio's workforce significantly diminished, with estimates suggesting the headcount is now hovering at roughly 80 remaining employees. The impact is already visible across professional networks:

  • Senior Game Designer James Tyler has updated his status to reflect his departure.
  • Audio Designer Tom Cross has also been identified among those laid off.
  • Members of the community team have confirmed their exits via the official MindsEye Discord channel.

The Turbulent History of Build a Rocket Boy

The instability at the studio follows a disastrous period for the developer. Following the June 2025 launch of MindsEye, the studio entered a cycle of downsizing that began just one month later. This period was marked by extreme internal friction, including an open letter from staff to management that called for urgent organizational change.

At the time, employees described the launch of MindsEye as "one of the worst video game launches this decade." Following those initial cuts, another round of layoffs struck the studio in March of this year.

A Complicated Comeback Attempt

These new reports of Build a Rocket Boy layoffs arrive at a particularly sensitive time for the franchise. Just one week ago, the studio released the official ‘Blacklisted’ update, introducing a new mission through the 'Arcadia' user-generated content platform.

This update was framed as the start of a much-needed comeback bid for the title. It was also intended to present evidence supporting management's claims that both the studio and MindsEye had been subject to sabotage prior to their high-profile launch failure.

Despite these efforts to revitalize the game, player engagement appears to be struggling. While official console figures remain unavailable, Steam data shows only six people currently playing MindsEye at the time of writing.