Rocket boy ceo alleges sabotage, plans 'blacklist' mission in mindseye
Build a Rocket Boy, the studio behind the troubled MindsEye, is doubling down on claims of deliberate sabotage, announcing a new in-game mission, 'Blacklist,' intended to present what CEO Mark Gerhard describes as 'evidence' supporting his allegations. The move, revealed in an interview with GamesBeat, adds another layer of complexity to the already fraught launch and subsequent struggles of the game.
A playable female character and a controversial narrative
Gerhard stated that 'Blacklist' will introduce a new, female playable character and will be used as a platform to share this purported evidence with the community. The specifics of this evidence remain unclear, but the announcement fuels the ongoing controversy surrounding MindsEye’s performance and the studio’s narrative regarding its failure.
For months, Gerhard has asserted that a “concerted effort” was made to “trash the game and the studio” by both internal and external actors. He alleges that these saboteurs used tactics such as paying influencers and deploying spam bots to negatively impact the game’s reputation on social media platforms. These claims have been consistently denied by IO Interactive, the former publisher of MindsEye. The lack of concrete proof supporting these claims remains a significant point of contention.
Adding another dimension to the unfolding saga, Gerhard claims that investigations are underway in both the United States and the United Kingdom, treating the alleged actions as potential criminal corporate espionage. “We’ve got very strong evidence of this and conducted quite thorough investigations over the months since launch,” he told GamesBeat. “We’ve identified parties involved, and it’s now with the authorities both UK and US to deal with.”
The studio acknowledges a disastrous launch, riddled with bugs and crashes, which Gerhard attributes to the studio itself. “We’re very excited about this next chapter,” he said, seemingly attempting to project optimism despite the turmoil. He further stated that the team is committed to ongoing improvements and a planned “relaunch” after, as he puts it, “the interference has stopped.”
Leslie Benzies, the studio head and a veteran of Grand Theft Auto 5 production, has reportedly returned from an extended vacation following the launch. However, Gerhard hints at the possibility of further layoffs, despite two previous rounds of staff reductions. The studio’s claims of increasingly organic sales doubling weekly stand in stark contrast to the game’s current standing: just 11 players active on Steam at the time of reporting, a Metacritic score of 39, and a user score of 2.6.
The recent handover of publishing responsibilities from IO Interactive to Build a Rocket Boy, and the subsequent cancellation of a planned Hitmancrossover event, further underscore the instability surrounding MindsEye. The narrative Gerhard is weaving is one of victimhood, but the ongoing lack of verifiable evidence and the game's demonstrable shortcomings raise serious questions about the veracity of his claims. It’s a narrative that, regardless of its truth, continues to dominate the conversation around a game struggling to find its footing.
A question of perception versus reality
While Gerhard insists the game is receiving “very well-reviewed” feedback, the data tells a different story. The disconnect between his perception and the demonstrable reality—a “mixed” score on Steam and a resounding 4/10 from IGN—highlights the critical challenge facing Build a Rocket Boy. The success of 'Blacklist', and indeed the future of MindsEye, hinges not only on the evidence presented within the game but also on the studio’s ability to address the fundamental flaws that plagued its initial release.