While MindsEye developer Build A Rocket Boy might be getting ready to support the title with more content updates, the studio is also facing internal troubles. According to Game Developer, employees, who are also part of the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB), are pursuing legal action against Build A Rocket Boy, alleging that the studio had installed surveillance software on their work machines.
Representatives of the IWGB have noted that the software—Teramind—was only removed from employees’ devices last month after 40 of them signed a collective grievance about the incident. Studio leaders have also refused to reveal what kind of data was collected from the employees. In a statement, the union said that the studio’s co-leads, Mark Gerhard and Leslie Benzies, had confirmed the installation of Teramind without the knowledge of employees.
“The IWGB Game Workers Union, representing the workers, alleges that [Build A Rocket Boy]’s use of the software violates both data protection laws and the workforce’s basic dignity, exceeding the legitimate remit of monitoring workers’ productivity or safeguarding the company’s security by recording individuals in their homes and without their consent,” said the union in its statement. “In an internal meeting which was leaked to the press, bosses Mark Gerhard and Leslie Benzies confirmed that the software Teramind had been installed without workers’ knowledge. The programme tracks users’ key strokes, records screen activity, and captures microphone audio.”
Separate legal claims had also been filed by IWGB members earlier this month related to the alleged mishandling of the redundancy processes announced back in March. In another statement, lead cinematic animator and union member Chris Wilson has also called the studio’s “toxic culture of secrecy and micromanaging” the worst he had ever experienced.
“Build A Rocket Boy’s toxic culture of secrecy and micromanaging is one of the worst I’ve seen in a 20-year career in the gaming industry,” he said.
“While they have conceded to our headline demand of removing Teramind from our devices, many questions still remain about their actions. It can only be assumed this software was added as a part of their effort to micromanage us, a product of their mistrust of their employees. It created an atmosphere of unease, something that doesn’t lead to great video game production.”
Gerhard had announced lay-offs affecting Build A Rocket Boy back in March, noting that “the launch period [of MindsEye] was affected by factors beyond normal operational challenges and a competitive environment.” He went on to double down on claims of sabotage against the studio and said that Build A Rocket Boy was working with external partners and legal advisors. This has “now resulted in overwhelming evidence of organised espionage and corporate sabotage affecting MindsEye. Because this matter is moving toward prosecution, we cannot share the full details publicly yet.”
MindsEye was released on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S back in June 2025. For more details, check out our review. While critical reception has been quite negative since launch, Build A Rocket Boy has continued to support the title with post-launch updates.
