Leslie Benzies, the head of MindsEye and founder of Build A Rocket Boy, claimed during an internal meeting that “saboteurs” within the company were responsible for the game’s unfavorable reception. This all-staff gathering occurred in July, shortly after the game’s debut and its harsh critique by reviewers.

Benzies expressed his belief that the backlash was unjustified and suggested that both internal and external factors had hindered the game’s successful launch. He vowed to identify and address the “saboteurs” within the organization, which came shortly after announcements of layoffs were made.

“I find it appalling that anyone would exhibit such behavior and continue to work here,” Benzies stated in the meeting. However, numerous employees shared a contrasting perspective on why the game failed to meet expectations.

One former team member, Jamie, remarked that “Leslie never settled on a clear direction for the game.” Meanwhile, others accused Benzies of excessive micro-management, often raising various issues during playthroughs. These were referred to as “Leslie tickets” and were prioritized above other tasks.

“It was irrelevant what other projects were underway; addressing the Leslie tickets was paramount,” said former lead data analyst Ben Newbon. He also noted that many concerns raised by other staff often went unacknowledged. Margherita Peloso, another former employee, mentioned feeling dismissed during discussions when they voiced their opinions.

Reports also highlighted a culture of crunch time leading up to the game’s release, with many employees anticipating a negative response to their work. Recently, developers at MindsEye signed an open letter regarding ongoing issues of disrespect and mistreatment from studio leadership.

In an official statement, Build A Rocket Boy expressed sorrow over the situation, emphasizing the dedication and creativity that staff had invested in their projects. They acknowledged the difficulties that followed the launch and the unexpected necessity for layoffs.

Addressing the claims of internal and external sabotage, the studio’s leadership accepted full responsibility for the initial launch of MindsEye, acknowledging that the released version failed to meet the standards the community deserved.

Prior to the game’s release, co-CEO Mark Gerhard had also suggested on a Discord server that those voicing negative reactions were possibly financed by external parties, implying there was a deliberate effort aimed against the studio.

Since the launch, publisher IO Interactive has distanced itself from the project, with CEO Hakan Abrak affirming that the company will focus on publishing its own titles moving forward, leaving the future of IOI Partners uncertain.