Executive Departures Shake Up Build A Rocket Boy Just Before MindsEye Release

Leading Executives Leave Build A Rocket Boy Ahead of Highly Anticipated MindsEye Launch

Just one week before the launch of MindsEye, the highly anticipated debut game from former Rockstar veteran Leslie Benzies, the studio Build A Rocket Boy is facing unexpected leadership changes. Two senior executives have parted ways with the company amid growing speculation and recent upheavals.

Unexpected Resignations Stir Rumors and Speculation

According to reports from Eurogamer, the company’s Chief Financial Officer, Paul Bland, and legal counsel, Riley Grebner, have both left their positions unexpectedly. Grebner, who joined Build A Rocket Boy in 2022, shared a farewell message on LinkedIn, stating, “We doubled our size, built a legal department from scratch, and launched multiple projects worldwide. I am proud of what we achieved during this period.”

Meanwhile, Paul Bland has kept a lower profile. His LinkedIn profile was recently updated, but with noticeable changes: the original “Paul Bland” profile was removed, replaced by a truncated version named “Paul B.” Additionally, Bland’s public comments and activity have vanished, fueling speculations about internal shifts within the company.

Background and Context of Ongoing Challenges

Just a week prior to these resignations, one of the studio’s co-founders and CEO, Mark Gerhard, publicly accused external parties of orchestrating a smear campaign against MindsEye. He hinted that bots controlled by an unnamed client, possibly linked to former Rockstar associates, were spreading disinformation to undermine the game’s reputation. This statement added to the narrative of internal and external pressures facing the studio in the critical weeks leading up to launch.

Upcoming Release and Public Interest

MindsEye is scheduled for release on June 10 and will be available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. As the launch date approaches, gameplay videos have begun circulating online, with some gaming bloggers already granted early access to the game. Fans and industry insiders are eager to see if the game will meet expectations after the recent turbulence within the studio.

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Alex "Pixel" Petrov

Gaming journalist & industry insider. Covers the latest game releases, updates, and behind-the-scenes dev stories. Knows every Easter egg, patch note, and upcoming title worth hyping. Always gaming, always analyzing.