The MindsEye studio's controversial fan event this weekend has sparked a heated debate among workers and the public alike. The event, an all-expenses-paid affair, invites members of the game's fan community to play an updated build of MindsEye with new features. However, the timing and context of the event have raised eyebrows, especially given the recent layoffs at Build a Rocket Boy, the studio behind MindsEye.
In the past year, Build a Rocket Boy has undergone multiple rounds of layoffs, with over 100 employees being notified of their redundancy shortly after the release of MindsEye. The studio conducted another round of layoffs in March, followed by another 170 layoffs in May, after shipping a new campaign mission. The studio's founder, Leslie Benzies, and co-CEO, Mark Gerhard, have alleged 'organised espionage and corporate sabotage' as the reason for the game's poor reception and the studio's financial struggles.
The workers at MindsEye, who are protesting the fan event, argue that the studio's decision to fund such an event is insensitive and disrespectful, especially given the recent layoffs and the studio's alleged mistreatment of employees. The Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB) has joined the protest, along with other unions and the wider public, highlighting the studio's invasive surveillance practices and data privacy violations.
In October last year, 93 current and former employees of Build a Rocket Boy, along with the Game Workers Branch of the IWGB union, signed a letter calling out studio leadership over 'longstanding disrespect and mistreatment'. The union has also initiated legal action against BARB, the studio's parent company, over data privacy violations.
The protest outside the Edinburgh offices on Saturday, 11th July, is a stark reminder of the tensions between the studio and its employees, and the public's growing skepticism about the studio's practices. The event itself, while seemingly a celebration of the game's fan community, has become a focal point for the studio's internal struggles and the public's scrutiny.
In my opinion, the protest is a necessary step towards holding the studio accountable for its actions and ensuring that the rights of workers are respected. The fan event, while potentially exciting, has become a symbol of the studio's internal issues and the need for transparency and accountability. The workers' protest is a call for change, and it is up to the studio to address the concerns and rebuild trust with its employees and the public.
