Introduction
Building a company comes with myriad challenge, and sometimes, accusations fly as much as creativity does. This is the case with Build A Rocket Boy (BARB), as its co-CEOs claim that sabotage is behind the lackluster performance of their latest endeavor, MindsEye.
Sabotage Allegations
In troubling news, during a leaked internal meeting in late January, co-CEO Mark Gerhard informed employees that they had identified the perpetrators purportedly sabotaging MindsEye, stating, “We caught the guys who’ve been sabotaging MindsEye.” Following this assertion, it was revealed the names of these individuals would be incorporated into an upcoming mission within the game, in a strategy for narrative ownership.
(Translation: “Identifying those responsible for the negative impact on our game has been key for us. We intend to integrate these names into our narrative, thus taking control of the story.”)
Claims of a Major Smear Campaign
Gerhard suggested that a “very big American company” orchestrated this smear campaign, spending over €1 million to thwart MindsEye. The co-CEOs previously hinted at Rockstar’s involvement but redirected blame to another organization, Ritual Network, based in the UK.
Response from Ritual Network
Ritual Network has denied these accusations, stating they were not aware of any legitimate claims against them and dismissed connections to the sabotage allegations.
Internal Reaction and Ongoing Issues
As MindsEye faced its disastrous launch, resulting in over 250 layoffs, former employees voiced that the true culprits behind its failure were not external saboteurs but rather internal mismanagement and poor working conditions. “We’re taking legal steps to address this,” said a spokesperson for BARB, highlighting their efforts to combat the slander.
Conclusion
While Mark Gerhard proclaims they are taking prudent steps to secure the reputation of their studio and project, the veracity of their claims remains under scrutiny as employees past and present voice discontent with leadership’s reluctance to accept responsibility for the game’s shortcomings.
