MindsEye Devs Taking Legal Action Against Build a Rocket Boy Studio

A fresh wave of legal trouble is hitting the developers of MindsEye as staff members take their grievances to court. This ongoing conflict has complicated the already rocky history surrounding the development of MindsEye as internal tensions continue to boil over. This specific legal push comes from a group of workers who claim their privacy rights were ignored during the development process.

The studio, Build a Rocket Boy, was founded by Leslie Benzies, whose legendary history at Rockstar Games led many to believe that his new team would produce the next great open-world success. However, the launch of their first major title was anything but smooth, resulting in some of the lowest review scores in recent years. The project currently holds a dismal OpenCritic score of just 33 on PlayStation 5, making MindsEye one of the lowest-rated releases of 2025. In the months after that disappointing debut, the company has dealt with rumors of a messy production process and a lack of clear vision from those at the top. Despite the heavy criticism, the studio’s leaders have maintained that their failures were not their own fault.

MindsEye’s Upcoming Mission Will Include Evidence Backing CEO’s Sabotage Claims

MindsEye will release a new mission that will supposedly include evidence backing the claims of Build A Rocket Boy’s CEO about internal sabotage.

Build a Rocket Boy Facing More Legal Trouble

As reported by Game Developer, at the heart of the latest lawsuit is a piece of monitoring software known as Teramind, which was reportedly hidden on worker computers. Employees first noticed that their systems were running much slower than usual, which led them to find the secret tracking program. During an internal meeting that was later leaked to the media, bosses Mark Gerhard and Leslie Benzies allegedly confirmed that the software was added without anyone’s permission. The IWGB Game Workers Union claims that this tool was capable of recording everything from “users’ key strokes” and “screen activity” to “microphone audio.” This surveillance was especially troubling because it took place while people were working from their own homes, potentially capturing private information without any oversight. While management eventually took the software off the machines in March after 40 people protested, they have refused to explain what happened to the data they already collected.

The union representing the MindsEye staff has been incredibly critical of these actions, claiming that they represent a massive breach of trust. In a statement provided to the press, the IWGB alleged that the use of this tracking tool “violates both data protection laws and the workforce’s basic dignity” by going far beyond what is needed to check on productivity. Chris Wilson, a lead cinematic animator at the studio and a member of the union, did not hold back when describing the situation. He stated that “Build A Rocket Boy’s toxic culture of secrecy and micromanaging is one of the worst I’ve seen in a 20-year career in the gaming industry.” Wilson further explained that the installation of the software created a heavy atmosphere of mistrust that made it difficult to focus on making a good game. The union is now demanding that the company be transparent about why the software was installed and how the captured data is being handled.

MindsEye Jacob Diaz Playable Character with Marco Silva and Rigby in-game cutscene screenshot

In response to these accusations, management has claimed that they and MindsEye are actually the ones being targeted by a criminal conspiracy. Co-CEO Mark Gerhard has argued on several occasions that the game’s bad launch was the result of “organized espionage and corporate sabotage” from a few bad actors. Gerhard specifically pointed the finger at an agency called Ritual Network, claiming they worked to undermine the project’s success. The studio says it has gathered “overwhelming evidence” of this sabotage and is now working with law enforcement in both the UK and the United States. To make matters even stranger, the studio plans to release an in-game mission called “Blacklist” that will supposedly show players the proof of this alleged betrayal. Gerhard believes these drastic surveillance measures were necessary to find “the 1% that is the problem” within the company.

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This privacy dispute is just one part of a larger legal battle that could cost the studio millions of dollars. On April 12, the union filed other legal claims regarding how Build A Rocket Boy fired roughly 300 people last summer. These filings include allegations of “unlawful blacklisting, detriment, and failure to engage in collective consultations” during the layoff process. This follows an open letter from late 2025 in which workers first accused the leadership of “corrosive mismanagement.” While management continues to blame outside spies for the studio’s troubles, former staff members suggest that the real issues stem from crunch and a lack of direction. As more layoffs are announced alongside these strange sabotage claims, the future of the entire project remains unknown.