In July this year, workers at Build a Rocket Boy, a video game studio in Edinburgh, were called to an all-staff meeting.

Their first ever game, a sci-fi adventure called MindsEye, had been released three weeks earlier - and it had been a total disaster.

Critics and players called it broken, buggy, and the worst game of 2025.

Addressing staff via video link, the company's boss, Leslie Benzies, assured them there was a plan to get things back on track and said the negativity they'd seen was uncalled for.

Then he pivoted, alleging internal and external forces had been working to scupper the MindsEye launch.

He told the assembled workers - who'd been informed they faced redundancy just a week earlier - there would be an effort to root out saboteurs within the company.

Critics have expressed skepticism towards his claims, leading former employees to speak out about the management practices they believe contributed to the game's failure.

Barb's first project, Everywhere, was initially promising, described by some former employees as a multiplayer role-playing game set in an open-ended futuristic city.

However, internal reports suggest frequent shifts in focus and poor management led to confusion and instability within the project, ultimately culminating in the botched launch of MindsEye.

After a brief celebration for the release, which was optimistic but soon turned gloomy, staff members witnessed the rapid unraveling of their hard work.

MindsEye's launch was marked by rampant bugs and performance issues, resulting in poor reception from critics and gamers alike.

Following the launch, 250 to 300 staff members, primarily in Edinburgh, faced redundancies as the team struggled to address the repercussions of the game's failure.

In a recent statement, Barb expressed regret over the situation and vowed to learn from feedback as they work to improve the game and their studio culture.

Former workers remain doubtful about MindsEye's recovery and worry about their future opportunities in the wake of significant industry job losses.

Despite the current turmoil, the team hopes for change and recognizes the talent that exists within the studio, emphasizing the need for solidarity among colleagues.