MindsEye Developer Says They Have Evidence Of 1-Million Campaign To Sabotage The Game

"A few weeks before MindsEye launched last year, Mark Gerhard, co-CEO of Build A Rocket Boy, alleged that the game was the victim of a targeted campaign to trash the game and studio. The company doubled-down after launch, blaming "saboteurs" for the game's poor reception. They alleged that somebody was unhappy with the success of Leslie Benzies, founder of the studio and former producer for Grand Theft Auto at Rockstar, as well as being president of Rockstar North."

"Gerhard claims that his company was the victim of a smear campaign run by a "very big American company," but that "it's probably not the company you're thinking of." Said campaign apparently totalled over a million Euros. Gerhard goes into more details, claiming that a UK company called Ritual Network was paying some Build A Rock Boy employees, three journalists and several influencers."

"They alleged that somebody was unhappy with the success of Leslie Benzies, founder of the studio and former producer for Grand Theft Auto at Rockstar, as well as being president of Rockstar North. He sued Take-Two and Rockstar executives Sam and Dan Houser in April 2016 for $150 million in unpaid bonuses and royalties, alleging sabotage of his sabbatical and contract breaches. Rockstar countersued, claiming he failed to perform duties and violated non-compete rules by hiring staff."

Build A Rocket Boy asserts that MindsEye and the studio were targeted by a coordinated sabotage and smear campaign involving paid third parties. An internal meeting video shows leadership stating "we caught the guys" sabotaging the game. The company alleges the campaign involved over a million Euros and names Ritual Network as paying some implicated employees, journalists, and influencers. The claims reference prior disputes involving Leslie Benzies, including a 2016 lawsuit against Take-Two and Rockstar and a confidential 2019 settlement. The company intends to pursue legal action with alleged charges of espionage, sabotage, and criminal interference.

Read at WGB