MindsEye Flopped So Badly That Its Publisher Is Questioning If It Should Publish Games Ever Again

Not what IO Interactive hoped for

You know Build a Rocket Boy as the developer behind MindsEye, but the colossal PS5 flop might never have made it to market without its publishing partner, Hitman and 007 First Light team IO Interactive.

MindsEye was the first game published by the studio that it did not make itself, and it’s done so badly that IO Interactive is questioning whether it should ever try again.

The company got on board with Build a Rocket Boy prior to release in order to support the debut studio. It saw the potential of “great ideas” and “a great world in the background”, so it wanted to help distribute the game, according to IO Interactive CEO Hakan Abrak.

Build a Rocket Boy talked a big game in the lead-up to release, promising an experience that revolutionises gaming” with “cinematic brilliance, [an] innovative game creation system, and a constant stream of fresh premium content”. The end result was a monumental failure, with an overall Metacritic score of 37.

Reflecting on the game, Abrak said to IGN: “It was a tough reception. It wasn’t what they hoped for, and also what we didn’t hope for at IOI Partners. They’re working hard on turning that around to regain the trust of the gamers out there, and they have tons of potential and content they’re working on. So hopefully they’ll succeed with that in the future.”

The experience has clearly impacted the future of IO Interactive’s publishing arm, as when asked if the firm will continue to distribute games alongside its own internally developed ones, Abrak simply said it “remains to be seen”.

Following its dismal launch, Build a Rocket Boy has confirmed it’s going through a wave of layoffs, and is now pushing back content it promised. A new level featuring Hitman has been delayed, and the studio stated it would have patches ready for August and September. The update set to go live last month hasn’t materialised.

[source eurogamer.net]

Liam grew up with a PlayStation controller in his hands and a love for Metal Gear Solid. Nowadays, he’s found playing the latest and greatest PS5 games as well as supporting Derby County. That last detail is his downfall.

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