adminReports of further MindsEye layoffs have raised new questions about the future of Scottish developer Build A Rocket Boy. Several staff members have reportedly said they lost their jobs, although the number of people affected has not been confirmed. The latest reports follow earlier redundancies after the game’s difficult launch and a series of changes to its development and publishing arrangements.
Image credit: Build a Rocket Boy
MindsEye layoffs: what is known so far
Multiple Build A Rocket Boy employees have reportedly disclosed that they were laid off. The scale of the latest job cuts remains unclear, and the studio has not provided a public response to a request for comment. Until the company confirms further details, the number of affected roles and teams should be treated as unverified.
Dan Hawkins, the studio’s principal talent acquisition partner and HR operations lead, announced that he was leaving in a LinkedIn post. He said he had spent nearly five years at Build A Rocket Boy and had joined as the first member of its in-house recruitment team. During that period, he said, the studio grew from 200 employees to 550.
Hawkins also indicated that he would stay temporarily to help the HR department manage the transition. He said he was open to hearing about new roles at growing companies, both inside and outside the games industry.
How MindsEye’s launch preceded earlier redundancies
Build A Rocket Boy released its action-adventure game, MindsEye, in June 2025. The launch drew poor reviews, while players reported bugs and performance problems. Sponsored marketing streams were also cancelled at short notice.
The studio cut staff soon after the release. Reports at the time suggested that around 300 developers had been laid off, and the company later confirmed further redundancies. These figures describe earlier rounds of cuts and should not be taken as a confirmed count for the latest reported layoffs.
Despite the staffing changes, the developer continued issuing updates for the game. In November, it introduced a free starter-pack trial across all platforms, giving players a way to try the game before deciding whether to purchase it.
Development and publishing changes
In February, Build A Rocket Boy announced what it called a new phase of ongoing development for MindsEye. The announcement was the studio’s first notable public-relations push since the game’s June launch. In March, the developer and IOI Partners, the publishing division of IO Interactive, concluded their publishing agreement for the game.
A person familiar with the studio has reportedly suggested that Build A Rocket Boy might not be formally dissolved, even if its remaining employees were eventually let go. This remains an unconfirmed possibility, not an announcement about the company’s plans.
Staff concerns and what to watch next
In July, Build A Rocket Boy employees protested outside the studio’s Edinburgh offices. They objected to an “all-expenses-paid” fan event, arguing that it was inappropriate given the scale of job cuts already made.
For employees and players seeking clarity, the most useful information to watch for is an official statement confirming the number of affected staff, the teams involved and how development support for MindsEye will continue. For now, the latest MindsEye layoffs remain a reported development, with their full extent still unknown.
