Build a Rocket Boy reportedly slashes staff by 170 as MindsEye struggles continue
Former employees confirm departures on social media, leaving the developer with an estimated headcount of just 80
Build a Rocket Boy, the developer behind the troubled artificial intelligence title *MindsEye*, has reportedly undergone a significant round of staff reductions. Reports indicate that approximately 170 roles have been affected in this latest wave of cuts, a move that reduces the Scotland-based studio's total headcount to roughly 80 employees.
While no official confirmation has been issued by the studio regarding these specific departures, the information is corroborated by former staff members who have publicly confirmed their exits via LinkedIn posts. Among those identified as having left are Technical Level Designer James Tyler and Audio Designer Tom Cross.
This reduction follows a previous wave of layoffs announced in early March and coincides with the studio's recent termination of its publishing partnership with IO Interactive. The end of the relationship with the Danish publisher led to the cancellation of a planned crossover with the *Hitman* series and a shift to exclusive publishing for *MindsEye*.
The studio has previously attributed the game's buggy launch and subsequent struggles to a combination of technical issues and alleged internal and external sabotage. This narrative was reinforced by the release of playable downloadable content detailing a fictional conspiracy within the game, though the financial instability has clearly resulted in a drastic downsizing of the workforce.
Engadget has reached out to Build a Rocket Boy for comment on the reported figures and has not received a response at the time of reporting. The reliance on employee confirmations rather than a formal press release means the exact scope of the cuts remains unverified by the company directly.
The situation highlights the ongoing volatility facing the artificial intelligence gaming sector, where high-profile projects and operational instability have led to rapid workforce contractions for developers attempting to navigate complex market challenges.
