MindsEye Offers Free Starter Pack Amidst Ongoing Controversy
Build A Rocket Boy is attempting to revitalize its struggling action game, MindsEye, with the release of a free starter pack available now on Steam, PS5, and Xbox Series consoles. The pack,launched yesterday,November 28th,aims to attract new players by providing a taste of the game’s “ever-expanding gameplay experience.”
The free content includes the story mission “Robin hood” and access to a rotating selection of ARCADIA missions and challenges, regularly updated with new additions. Currently available ARCADIA missions include “garden Party – Drone Race,” “Chase The Sun – Drone race,” “Honor Among Thieves,” “Downtown – Goin’ Haywire,” “Crosstown Traffic – Checkpoint Race,” “Rude Interruption,” “Turbulence – Race,” “Free Bird – Sky Race,” “Winging It – Checkpoint Race,” “Craz-Eye Taxi – Checkpoint Race,” “Friendly Fire,” “Cruise Control – Sky Race,” “Fractured Echo – Survival Horde,” and “Road To hell – Race.” Players will assume the role of Jacob Diaz, a former soldier with a neural implant and fragmented memories, thrust into a high-speed chase and firefight.
The move comes during a period of intense internal turmoil at Build A Rocket boy. Last month, MindsEye boss and studio founder Leslie Benzies alleged in an internal meeting that “saboteurs” within the company were responsible for the game’s poor reception, following recent redundancies. He characterized the negativity surrounding the game as “uncalled for” and claimed both “internal and external” forces undermined its launch.
Thes claims followed an open letter signed by MindsEye developers criticizing studio executives for “longstanding disrespect and mistreatment” after the game’s disastrous release. Prior to launch, co-CEO Mark Gerhard suggested on the MindsEye Discord server that negative reactions were ”financed by someone” as part of a “concerted effort” against the studio.
Publisher IO Interactive has since distanced itself from the project.