In the lead-up to its June 10 release, MindsEye is facing a wave of controversy as its developer, Build A Rocket Boy, has reportedly declined to provide review codes to most media outlets and content creators. According to several industry sources, the studio has withheld early access, sparking concern among prospective players.
A widely shared statement from one creator claimed, “Just FYI MindsEye has refused review codes to most outlets and creators (can’t speak for everyone). After the preview, I recommend you not pre order this game until after seeing it played or actually reviewed. It is your money though, do whatever you want with it.” The advice reflects growing uncertainty surrounding the project.
Tensions surrounding the game escalated further following public remarks made by Build A Rocket Boy’s co-CEO, Mark Gerhard. Speaking on the game’s official Discord server, Gerhard claimed there was a “concerted effort” by some individuals to undermine both the game and the studio. In his words, “100 percent,” of those reacting negatively were financially motivated. When pressed, he added, “Doesn’t take much to guess who?”
The accusations drew immediate backlash from fans and Discord members. One user remarked, “A co-CEO for a studio implying another studio is paying previewers to talk negatively about your game is an absolutely wild comment to make in a public environment in any situation.” Gerhard replied, “Not wild when its true…..” The phrasing of that response, among others, has only added to the friction.
Later in the discussion, Gerhard seemed to clarify his position, stating: “No I never said that. I do KNOW that there are bot farms posting negative comments and dislikes.” However, he did not present evidence to support this claim.
MindsEye is being developed by Build A Rocket Boy, co-founded by former Rockstar North president Leslie Benzies and based in Edinburgh, Scotland. The game is slated to release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and PC via both Steam and the Epic Games Store.
