Layoffs have hit MindsEye developer Build A Rocket Boy Again, based on published reports citing posts by laid-off workers.
Build A Rocket Boy has had multiple layoffs in the past couple of years. The game from former Grand Theft Auto designer Leslie Benzies bombed when it first came on in June 2025.
Meanwhile, BARB CEO Mark Gerhard told us in an interview in March that the company had been investigating criminal activity from those who wanted the thwart the company as saboteurs. The game debuted with performance problems, AI issues and other kinds of bugs.
BARB once had more than 500 people, but those laid off now said that it’s possible the studio is shutting down. About a year ago, the company had around 300 people, but more rounds of layoffs happened. The company did not respond to a request for comment.
BARB acquired the rights to the game back from publisher IO Interactive and tried to relaunch the game, but its major Blacklisted update did not move the needle. Concurrent players on Steam are just in the dozens of players.
BARB raised more than $300 million, but the company has reported losses in the tens of millions of dollars.
Dan Hawkins, principal talent acquisition partner at Build A Rocket Boy, posted on LinkedIn, “With a very heavy heart I raise my green banner, along with the rest of my colleagues at Build a Rocket Boy. I will be seeing BARB through till the very end, helping wrap things up here in the HR department.”
And Adam Ridsdale, an artist at BARB, posted, “Unfortunately, along with the rest of my colleagues at Build a Rocket Boy, I am facing redundancy and now looking for a new opportunity. If you or anyone you know is seeking a hard surface artist specializing in weapons and props with 9+ years of experience in the games industry on indie, double-A and triple-A projects including work on the renowned Fallout franchise, let’s chat.”
,” he said, implying Build a Rocket Boy is imminently shutting down. Lead 3D weapon/prop artist Adam Ridsdale echoed that, saying, “Unfortunately, along with the rest of my colleagues at Build a Rocket Boy, I am facing redundancy and now looking for a new opportunity.”