The highly anticipated release of ‘Mindseye,’ the latest project from former GTA producer Leslie Benzies, has unfolded amid a wave of criticism. Since its launch on June 10, 2025, the game has garnered a "Mostly Negative" review status on Steam, leaving fans and industry observers questioning what went wrong for this ambitious title from Build a Rocket Boy.
A Troubled Launch
Despite expectations fueled by Benzies’s notable history with blockbuster titles like Grand Theft Auto (GTA) and Red Dead Redemption, ‘Mindseye’ has struggled to resonate with players. The game currently holds a low score of 5.5 out of 10 on Steam, with 514 user reviews indicating widespread dissatisfaction. Common complaints focus on optimization issues, a lack of polish, and bugs that players found frustratingly intrusive. Many gamers have described the experience as feeling "rushed," detracting from what could have been an immersive adventure.
One player expressed dismay, stating, "The storyline had potential, but the gameplay was riddled with bugs that made it unplayable at times." According to feedback, these performance issues have persisted even on high-end systems, which is particularly alarming for a title that sought to leverage the latest technology and innovative gameplay.
Comparative Performance on Consoles
Interestingly, the reception of ‘Mindseye’ appears to differ across platforms. While it has suffered on Steam, initial reviews on the PlayStation Store and Xbox Series X/S show more favorable ratings, with scores of approximately 3.26 out of 5 and just under 4 stars respectively. This discrepancy raises questions about possible platform-specific optimization issues and indicates that the problems may predominantly affect the PC version.
The Legacy of Leslie Benzies
Leslie Benzies’s return to game development has been a point of intrigue for many, particularly following his high-profile departure from Rockstar Games in 2016. This return was projected as a comeback of sorts—an opportunity to create a game embodying his vast experience. With ‘Mindseye,’ players navigate as Jacob Diaz, a former soldier grappling with memory loss, embarking on missions filled with action and corporate espionage set against a backdrop of artificial intelligence.
Despite Benzies’s solid track record in the industry, the cool response to ‘Mindseye’ suggests a gap between developer expectations and player experiences. As noted by Game Rant, the game’s build showed several bugs even in its early preview, only for the studio’s co-CEO, Mark Gerhard, to downplay these concerns, a decision that now seems questionable given the ensuing backlash.
A Call for Improvements
In light of the poor reviews, it seems the development team has a considerable amount of work ahead. Players are hoping for timely patches that address the critical gameplay issues that have marred their enjoyment of the game. A quick turnaround for fixing these bugs is essential if Build a Rocket Boy intends to salvage the game’s reputation and retain a player base.
As the gaming community watches closely, ‘Mindseye’ serves as a reminder that even seasoned veterans can encounter significant challenges when stepping into new ventures. Whether Benzies’s team can turn the tides and win back trust remains to be seen.
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