MindsEye studio enters administration following devastating layoffs

Background: The Studio, the Game and the Early Warning Signs

Build a Rocket Boy, commonly abbreviated as BARB, was the independent developer behind MindsEye, an open-world action game released on June 28, 2024 for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. The studio was led by Leslie Benzies, former president of GTA creator Rockstar North. Leading up to release, many described MindsEye as a possible "GTA killer".

That expectation did not survive launch. The game was described as a classic dumpster fire, with nothing going right for it: the gameplay was mediocre, the tech side of things was a total disaster, and nothing about MindsEye really stood out to anyone anywhere in the world. Instead of focusing on fixing things, BARB’s leader accused internal and external saboteurs of destroying the studio and the game. A re-release followed some months later, but that, too, was not good.

Development: Layoff Reports, Debt Pressure and UK Administration

Last week, reports circulated that Build a Rocket Boy seemed to have fired everyone at the company, with only a few people remaining to see it through to closure. Those reports have now materialized: BARB has officially filed for administration at the United Kingdom Companies House. The filing indicates that the company is insolvent and lacks the money to pay off debts to various people and organizations.

Administration is usually filed as a means to protect a company from legal proceedings regarding these debts, and it is used by companies that are having problems accumulating enough cash to solve their financial woes. The UK Companies House says that a viable business can be rescued from insolvency through administration, but last week’s reports and the current filing point toward the end of the road for Leslie Benzies’ independent endeavors.

Latest Progress: Opus Advisory Group, Possible Sale and What Remains Uncertain

Eurogamer spotted the administration filing at the United Kingdom Companies House. Gamesindustry.biz confirmed that Opus Advisory Group was selected to be BARB’s administrator during these proceedings. Destructoid carried the story as part of its reporting on the latest gaming news.

BARB could still be sold, which might let the company secure new funding and cash at the expense of its business liberty. At this point, third-party management may just be what the company needs to stay afloat. Whether BARB will secure this extra cash remains rather uncertain.

Current Stage: From MindsEye Release to Insolvency Proceedings

The timeline moves from MindsEye’s 2024 release, through a poor reception, a re-release months later, mass layoff reports last week, and now BARB’s formal administration filing. For readers, the practical signal is that the studio behind the failed "GTA killer" attempt has entered a legal process aimed at managing unpaid debts and deciding whether the business can be rescued or sold. The future of MindsEye, BARB and Leslie Benzies’ independent game development project is now in the hands of third-party management, not in the launch hype that preceded the game.