Key Takeaways
1. Ninety-three developers from Build A Rocket Boy accuse leadership of disrespect, mistreatment, and issues like mandatory overtime.
2. The open letter, released by the Independent Workers’ Union, demands accountability for a culture of burnout and job insecurity.
3. Employees claim management failures, including a poorly handled redundancy process, contributed to the game’s troubled launch and staff distress.
4. Developers request a public apology, fair compensation for layoffs, and improved working conditions, including union recognition.
5. The letter criticizes the disconnect between the company’s claims of treating employees like family and their actual treatment.
Ninety-three current and past developers from Build A Rocket Boy, the studio responsible for MindsEye, have signed an open letter accusing the company’s leadership of persistent disrespect and mistreatment. This includes issues like mandatory overtime and a poorly handled redundancy process that has caused distress among staff.
Open Letter Release
The letter was made public on October 10 by the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain Game Workers’ branch. It directly addressed co-founders Leslie Benzies, who was formerly the president of Rockstar North, co-CEO Mark Gerhard, and ex-CEO of Jagex.
Demands for Change
In the letter, employees demand accountability for what they describe as a culture filled with burnout and job insecurity, worsened by the problematic launch of the game in June. The letter states:
“We believe you have mishandled the redundancy process, leading to confusion and distress for all staff. Employees have gotten misinformation, received dismissal notices with incorrect notice periods, and have been placed in the wrong teams, resulting in their performance being evaluated by the wrong people. These and other mistakes may have led to the wrongful termination of many staff members.”
Claims of Management Failures
The open letter connects the failure of MindsEye directly to decisions made by management. It claims that a mandatory overtime policy enforced during the four months leading up to the launch contributed to burnout, health problems, and a lack of transparency, which ultimately harmed the game’s quality and reception.
After the launch, the studio began laying off staff on June 23, impacting around 250 to 300 employees—about half of the total workforce of around 500. This raised concerns about additional cuts as resources were redirected to salvage MindsEye and work on their next project, Everywhere.
Gerhard had previously suggested that the backlash was due to a “concerted effort” against the studio, including paid negative coverage. This assertion was echoed in internal communications but was later dismissed by publisher IO Interactive, who stated that their future in publishing “remains to be seen” following the issues.
Specific Requests from Developers
In response to these concerns, the 93 signatories have laid out four clear requests:
1. A public apology for the mistreatment of employees and fair compensation for those laid off.
2. The choice for employees on redundancy notice to either finish their notice period or take Payment in Lieu of Notice.
3. A genuine, documented effort to enhance conditions and procedures within the company, including recognizing the IWGB as a trade union.
4. A commitment to engage official external partners to manage any future redundancies and prevent unfair treatment.
The letter concluded with a somewhat blunt remark that may reflect the general indifference towards how developers are treated in the industry overall: “You often call your employees a ‘family,’ but we ask you to think, is this really how you treat your own?”
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