A group of current and former game developers from Build A Rocket Boy have come forward to speak about their negative experiences at the company after the poor launch of the game MindsEye. The developers, supported by the Game Workers' Branch of the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain, wrote an open letter criticizing the studio's management. They say that over two hundred employees lost their jobs and that the process was handled poorly, with mistakes in notices and team assignments that led to wrongful dismissals.
The open letter also described a stressful work environment. For several months before the release, all employees were required to work eight extra hours each week. Although the company promised equivalent time off, many employees could not take their time due to ongoing work demands. Communication within the company was said to be confusing, with big changes made without asking affected workers for their input.
The developers believe MindsEye failed not because of sabotage, as claimed by some studio leaders, but due to poor management and unhealthy work practices. Some staff even experienced serious mental and physical health problems because of the stressful conditions.
Union members have now filed legal charges against Build A Rocket Boy. They are demanding a public apology, proper compensation for those who lost their jobs, better conditions for current staff, and a commitment to fair treatment in the future.
The union wants to show that the games industry must follow employment laws like any other business and that employees have rights that must be respected. In response, the company says it tried to handle the layoffs with care and is listening to feedback to improve in the future.
Original article and image: https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/cheated-and-manipulated-mindseye-devs-eviscerate-studio-bosses-who-blamed-botched-launch-on-saboteurs-and-say-theyll-see-them-in-court-the-games-industry-is-not-the-wild-west-anymore/
