The Edinburgh-based video game studio Build A Rocket Boy (Barb) has entered administration, marking a formal insolvency process for the company founded by former Grand Theft Auto senior developer Leslie Benzies. The studio faces potential closure or sale to a new owner following the commercial and critical failure of its debut title, MindsEye, which launched in June 2025.
The insolvency follows a turbulent period for the company, which was established in 2016 after Benzies left Rockstar Games. Barb initially developed a multiplayer role-playing game titled Everywhere but pivoted to the action-adventure game MindsEye. Despite attracting more than £233 million in investment by 2024, the game received widespread negative reviews and player complaints upon release, with some critics labeling it a significant disappointment.
Following the launch, Barb made between 250 and 300 employees redundant. Former staff members have previously described the development process as chaotic and lacking coherent direction. During an all-staff call prior to the recent layoffs, Benzies alleged that "internal and external" forces had conspired to hinder the release and vowed to identify "saboteurs" within the company. In response to inquiries regarding these claims, the company stated that the senior management team takes full responsibility for the initial launch and acknowledged that the released version did not reflect the experience the community deserved.
Attempts to recover the title through subsequent fixes and content updates did not significantly increase the player base. Barb’s most recent financial accounts, covering the period up to September 2025, show a loss of £36.2 million and net assets of £10.5 million. The company reported that payments to creditors are currently on hold while an appointed administrator works to restructure the business. This process may involve selling assets to repay debts or, in the worst-case scenario, liquidating the company.
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