Tensions at Build A Rocket Boy have reached a breaking point, with current and former employees staging a protest outside the developer’s Edinburgh headquarters over the weekend. The demonstration follows an "extravagant" playtest event for MindsEye, which the studio hosted for fans despite having recently laid off hundreds of workers in the wake of the game's dismal launch.
Accusations of Misused Funds and Workplace Mistreatment
The protest, organized with the support of the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB), centers on claims that the studio is prioritizing fan engagement over the livelihoods of its workforce. The union accuses Build A Rocket Boy of using significant funds to fly in and accommodate fans to test new features—tasks that the union argues should have been performed by the staff members who were let go.
"Today's playtest is little more than a grandstanding gesture from managers who continue to treat both the company and its employees as props to support their own ambitions," said former employee Ben Newbon in a press release. "Their conduct, both before and since the disastrous launch of MindsEye, makes a mockery of the sweat, skill, and dedication that we poured into making their vision come to life."
Content Disputes and Legal Battles
The frustration extends beyond the playtest event. The recent addition of a mission titled "Blacklisted," which is intended to expose alleged saboteurs within the game, has been criticized by former staffer Isaac Hudd as a "leather-clad, sexist stereotype."
This is not the first time the studio has faced public backlash regarding its internal management. Build A Rocket Boy has previously been accused of workplace mistreatment and the installation of invasive surveillance software on office computers. The latter issue resulted in legal action, with the IWGB noting that employees have already successfully forced the company to cease the use of that software.
"This extravagant playtest event is a waste of money, and a kick in the teeth for the fired workers who are seeing fans brought in to do jobs that would otherwise have been theirs," said Spring McParlin-Jones, chair of the IWGB Game Workers Branch. "The members teaming up to fight back are an inspiration... they are continuing to stand up to these rogue bosses both in the courts and on the streets."