Build A Rocket Boy (Barb), an Edinburgh-based gaming studio led by former senior Grand Theft Auto developer Leslie Benzies, has entered administration. This move comes 15 months after the release of the studio’s debut action-adventure game, MindsEye, in June 2025. Pictured at the 2025 Bafta Game Awards, is regarded as a key figure in the development of Grand Theft Auto, leslie Benzies.
The project, which received over £233m in investment by 2024, faced severe backlash upon launch. Players and critics alike criticized the title, with some labels calling it “the worst game” of the year. Beyond the commercial failure, former staff have alleged that the internal development process was chaotic and accused Benzies of mismanaging the company’s operations.
Benzies founded Barb in 2016, the same year he departed from Rockstar Games following a legal dispute concerning unpaid royalties. The studio initially focused on a futuristic multiplayer role-playing game called Everywhere, but later shifted its primary development efforts toward MindsEye.
The administration process leaves the studio’s future uncertain, as it could now be sold to a new owner or face permanent closure. Newsbeat has reached out to Barb for comment on the situation. Newsbeat has contacted Barb for a response.
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