Studio executives called the team a "family." Employees ask: "Is this how you treat your loved ones?"
About 100 current and former employees of Build a Rocket Boy, the studio behind Mindseye, have signed an open letter condemning management for"ongoing disrespect and mistreatment" of staff. The letter, published on October 10 by the IWGB Game Workers union, highlights a number of issues faced by employees, including the actions of studio founder Leslie Benzies.
Following the disastrous launch of Mindseye, the company laid off, according to the union, between 250 and 300 people. The letter claims that this was the result of management's refusal to listen to the years of experience of employees, leading to"one of the worst releases of this decade."
Employees complain about"lack of transparency and communication." According to them, information was provided sparsely and vaguely, and Benzies often made radical changes to workflows without consulting the affected employees. In addition, four months before the game's release, the studio introduced mandatory eight hours of overtime per week for all employees. They were given seven hours of time off for every eight hours worked, but many were unable to use them due to constant demands to perform urgent work even after the game's launch.
The layoffs, according to employees, were carried out"catastrophically." It is alleged that employees were provided with incorrect information, including incorrect allocation to internal teams and incorrect notification periods, which may have led to unlawful dismissals.
Dissatisfied developers who left their signatures on the letter are demanding a public apology for the mistreatment, as well as"proper compensation" for those laid off. They also insist on improved working conditions, including recognition of the IWGB as a union, the use of external partners for future redundancies, and providing remaining employees under notice of termination with a choice: to work out the remaining time or receive payment in lieu of notice.
In conclusion, the employees address Benzies and co-director Mark Gerhard, who call the team a"family," with the question:"Is this how you treat your loved ones?"
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