Layoffs have become an unfortunate part of the video game industry. After a game completely flops, they’re all but expected.
That’s what’s happening withMindsEyedeveloper Build a Rocket Boy following its disastrous launch. Despite being led by formerGrand Theft Autodevelopers, the game failed to deliver anything close to GTA. Instead, it’s one of the year’sworst-reviewed games.
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Call it morbid curiosity, perhaps?
Recently, the studio came under fire for accusations ofposting fake positivereviews on social media. Now, there’s more bad news for Build a Rocket Boy.
According to a report fromIGN, the studio has begun laying off staff. A source told IGN that while the number of developers affected is unknown, the standard 45-day consultation process has begun.
Build a Rocket Boy is based in the UK, and it must comply with the law when an employer proposes more than 100 redundancies within 90 days.
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Despite the poor launch, theBuild a Rocket Boy team had big plans forpost-launch content. The team was looking to addfree and paid content, including planned updates in the Summer, Fall, and Winter.
With layoffs looming at the studio, those post-launch plans are now in question. This is the latest in a string of issues before and after the game’s launch. One week before the game’s launch, the studio’sCLO and CFO left the company.
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In anexclusive interviewwith Build a Rocket Boy, we asked the team about the game’s negative reception. “I think ultimately we have just had our heads down, focused on making this a really great game and as polished as possible,” they said. “We try to ignore any negativity because it’s not helpful. At the end of the day, we are a new, independent studio with an independent spirit, and we’re just trying to bring our first game to market. So when the game comes out in a few days, I invite players to dive in and make their own judgements.”
Due to the game’s poor reception, somePS5 owners have been able to get refunds.
