Imagine pouring your heart and soul into a game, only to watch it crash and burn at launch. That’s the harsh reality for the team behind MindsEye, a title that’s become synonymous with disaster in the gaming world. Released in 2025 by UK developer Build a Rocket Boy (BaRB), MindsEye didn’t just underperform—it plummeted to a staggering 37 on Metacritic, earning the dubious honor of being one of the worst-rated games of the year. But here’s where it gets controversial: while BaRB has scrambled to fix the game’s broken state with updates and patches, former staff members are now pointing fingers at the studio’s leadership, particularly Leslie Benzies and Mark Gerhard, as the root of the problem. Could MindsEye’s failure be more than just a series of unfortunate events? And this is the part most people miss: the studio’s troubles might not be due to external ‘saboteurs,’ as Benzies and Gerhard claim, but rather a result of mismanagement and a refusal to listen to their own talented team.
The signs of trouble were there long before MindsEye’s disastrous launch. Negative previews, the sudden departure of two high-level executives, and physical copies leaking early all spelled doom for the game. BaRB tried to reassure players, even expressing heartbreak over the launch, but the damage was already done. Players demanded refunds, and social media platforms like Reddit were flooded with screenshots and videos showcasing the game’s countless bugs. Less than a month after release, the studio announced mass layoffs, affecting over 100 employees. It was a stark reminder of how quickly things can unravel in the gaming industry.
But the drama didn’t stop there. In the months following the launch, an open letter signed by 93 BaRB developers called out Benzies and Gerhard for their leadership failures. The letter was followed by a BBC report that included damning statements from employees, painting a picture of a studio in chaos. Meanwhile, Benzies and Gerhard doubled down on their narrative, blaming internal and external ‘saboteurs’ for the company’s struggles. They even claimed to have evidence of a $1.1 million coordinated campaign to smear BaRB’s reputation. Yet, a recent report from GamesIndustry.Biz suggests the truth might be far simpler: poor leadership and a toxic work environment.
One former BaRB staff member recalled the frustration of being told that saboteurs were to blame for the game’s failure, rather than receiving a clear explanation about the layoffs. ‘Leslie didn’t seem to take any blame for the game’s launch,’ they said. ‘It was genuinely offensive that he didn’t trust his own employees.’ Another ex-employee pointed out Benzies’ tendency to fixate on new features, even just a month before launch, leaving no time to properly test or integrate them. ‘They crushed their own talent under the yoke of appeasing a single person at the very top,’ they added.
Ben Newbon, former lead data analyst at BaRB, summed it up bluntly: ‘Even if they had the best leadership in the world, there’s no way to bring this back. It’s still an extremely boring game. Leadership do not listen. Plus, they’ve culled over half the studio. They don’t know how to run a business. They don’t know how to run a game studio.’
Adding to the turmoil, Leslie Benzies has taken a temporary leave from the studio, with Mark Gerhard stepping in to guide the team forward. But with morale at an all-time low and the studio’s future hanging by a thread, many former employees believe BaRB’s days are numbered. ‘I don’t think BaRB survives this crisis,’ one ex-staffer said. ‘The end is coming, and it’s not heralded by saboteurs, but by Mark and Leslie themselves.’
So, here’s the burning question: Could MindsEye have been a success if Benzies and Gerhard had listened to their team? Or was the game doomed from the start? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this is one debate that’s sure to spark some heated discussions.
