Report: MindsEye developer Build a Rocket Boy seemingly closing

Diego Argüello,Contributing Editor, News,GameDeveloper.com

September 16, 2026

schedule2 Min ReadImage via Build a Rocket Boy

Build a Rocket Boy (BARB), the studio behind MindsEye, is reportedly winding down operations, as alleged by multiple farewell posts from staff via social media.

Over at LinkedIn, developers at the studio have spent the last 24 hours announcing their departures. The person in charge of principal talent acquisition partner and HR operations said that they're raising their green banner, referring to the #OpenForWork image tag, along with the rest of his colleagues.

"Just shy of 5 years here at BARB and one hell of a ride! Being the first hire into our internal recruitment team, taking the studio from 200 to 550 in a short period of time," the developer wrote.

In addition, they add they'll be "seeing BARB through till the very end, helping wrap things up" in the HR department.

The lead 3D weapon/prop artist repeated the same phrase as their colleague. "Unfortunately, along with the rest of my colleagues at Build a Rocket Boy, I am facing redundancy and now looking for a new opportunity."

Then, a Technical Level Designer (UGC) at the studio echoed the messaging: "Hi everyone, much like others at BARB, I find myself once again raising the green banner looking for new opportunities."

Kotaku reports that sources familiar with the situation have told the publication that Build a Rocket Boy is permanently closing its doors. The studio is yet to acknowledge the reported layoffs or closure.

The studio has had a tumultuous run during the development of MindsEye, as well as the time since its June 2025 launch. Almost 100 developers signed an open letter containing allegations of debilitating mismanagement, with some even filing legal claims. The team was hit by multiple rounds of job cuts while Build a Rocket Boy claimed the troubled launch was due to "corporate sabotage."

Then, IOI Partners, a division of Hitman developer IO Interactive, stepped down as publisher of MindsEye early this year. In while, game workers protested alleged misconduct outside the Edinburgh office of the developer, following legal action from the IWGB Game Workers Union over allegations of data privacy violations related to the installation of surveillance software on work devices.

Game Developer has contacted Build a Rocket Boy for corroboration.

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About the Author

Diego Argüello

Contributing Editor, News, GameDeveloper.com

Diego Nicolás Argüello is a freelance journalist and critic from Argentina. Video games helped him to learn English, so now he covers them for places like The New York Times, NPR, Rolling Stone, and more. He also runs Into the Spine, a site dedicated to fostering and supporting new writers, and co-hosted Turnabout Breakdown, a podcast about the Ace Attorney series. He’s most likely playing a rhythm game as you read this.

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