A group of nearly 100 former and current Build a Rocket Boy (BARB) developers published an open letter containing allegations of catastrophic mismanagement that allegedly led to “catastrophic staff reductions” and “unbearable levels of overtime.”
The letter was published with the assistance of the gaming workers' branch of the UK Independent Workers' Union. It claims that between 250 and 300 studio workers lost their livelihoods because BARB leaders, Mark Gerhard and Leslie Benzies, refused to support and listen to their employees.
Additional union statement published on Bluesky states that several BARB employees are currently filing lawsuits against the studio.
Studio confirmed that it is laying off workers in June– just a few weeks after the unsuccessful launch of the debut game MindsEye— but did not specify how many people would be laid off. BARB General Counsel Riley Graebner and CFO Paul Bland also left before MindsEye launched.
In a recently published open letter, 93 current and former BARB employees claim that Gerhard and Benzies implemented a mandatory overtime policy that required every employee to work an additional eight hours per week for the four months leading up to the launch.
“Time off in lieu of (TOIL) was granted at the rate of 7 hours ago for every 8 hours worked, but many have still not been able to take this leave due to your continued requests for additional 'high priority' work even after launch,” the letter reads.
The signatories also claim that Gerhard and Benzies completely mishandled the retrenchment process, causing “concern and confusion” for everyone.
“Employees received misinformation, were given termination notices with incorrect notice periods, and were assigned to the wrong teams so that the wrong people evaluated their performance,” the letter continues. “These and other errors could potentially lead to the wrongful termination of dozens of employees.”
“CEOs need to step back and let the qualified people who remain with the company lead the way forward.”
All 93 signatories say both executives consistently failed to communicate effectively with the very employees whose expertise the company relied on. “Information was sparse and vague, and you often made sweeping changes to the way we operated with little or no input from those affected,” the letter adds.
Gerhard and Benzies are ultimately accused of causing pain and stress to BARB employees by failing to take adequate responsibility for the company and its employees.
“Our experience with the company has been one of burnout, job insecurity, health issues, and the failure of a game that many of us have invested years of our lives into,” the letter continues. “BARB needs to change. Managers need to step back and let the qualified people who remain with the company lead the way forward.”
All signatories are demanding a public apology for their mistreatment and proper compensation for fired employees. They should be given the option to allow remaining employees who receive redundancy notice to either serve the notice period or receive pay in lieu of notice (PILON).
They also want Gerhard and Benzies to make a concerted, meaningful and documented effort to improve working conditions, including recognition of the IWGB as a trade union, and commit to using official external partners to deal with any future layoffs and prevent unfair treatment.
“Mark Gerhard and Leslie Benzies, you often refer to your employees as ‘family,’” the letter concludes. “But we ask you to consider: Is this really how you treat your own people?”
The game developer has reached out to BARB for comment.
