MiscBARB: Split With The HITMAN Creators, Investigating the MindsEye Failure, and Leslie Benzies on the Epstein Files

15 Feb at 20:42 Comment Views: 17

As we cross the mid-point of February 2026, one might have expected Build A Rocket Boy (BARB) and their contentious title, MindsEye, to have faded from the headlines. However, the architects behind what many critics labeled the previous year’s most disappointing release are ensuring the studio remains at the center of public discourse.

Severing Ties With IO Interactive

In early February, BARB confirmed that its collaborative efforts with IO Interactive had officially concluded. While external observers speculated that the Danish studio behind HITMAN was distancing itself following the commercial and critical struggle of MindsEye and its associated legal scandals, the impetus for the split reportedly came from BARB. The studio claims it wishes to prioritize internal development and the ongoing “rescue” of the product. Currently, MindsEye has reached its seventh major update, focused primarily on technical stabilization.

This divorce signals the end of the highly publicized HITMAN crossover missions teased last summer. Confirming the dissolution, the latest promotional footage has been scrubbed of all IO Interactive branding.

Allegations of Industrial Sabotage

Internal tensions reached a boiling point during a late-January meeting led by co-CEO Mark Gerhard. The executive laid out a startling narrative, alleging that the failure of MindsEye was the result of coordinated sabotage. Gerhard pointed the finger at an unnamed “major American corporation”—clarifying it was not Rockstar Games—which he claims paid over €1 million to Ritual Network, a UK-based influencer agency, to orchestrate a smear campaign. Ritual Network has categorically denied these claims.

Gerhard’s accusations extend beyond third parties, implicating specific journalists, high-profile bloggers, and even internal staff. In a controversial move, it was revealed that BARB utilized “Teramind” monitoring software to track employee activity without their knowledge, allegedly uncovering evidence of collusion on company hardware. The studio intends to pursue aggressive legal action against those involved, though reports suggest the invasive surveillance software will be phased out within the next quarter.

In a bizarre turn of events, the studio plans to air its grievances within the game itself. A new “spy mission” is reportedly in development that will publicly name the alleged saboteurs. This mission—likely utilizing assets from the canceled HITMAN collaboration—will task players with neutralizing targets representing real-world individuals accused of damaging BARB’s reputation, a move that legal experts suggest could be a minefield for defamation claims.

Leslie Benzies Addresses Personal Rumors and Current Absence

The studio’s founder, Leslie Benzies, has also stepped into the spotlight to address speculation regarding the Jeffrey Epstein files. While acknowledging a brief past relationship with Sarah Ransome, one of the victims, Benzies vehemently denied any connection to Epstein himself. The unsealed documents appear to corroborate this, mentioning Benzies only in the context of his personal association with Ransome.

“These allegations are false. I had a three-month consensual relationship with this individual, but I have never met Jeffrey Epstein, nor have I ever visited his properties or traveled on his aircraft. Any claims to the contrary are entirely baseless.”

Despite the turmoil surrounding his company, the former Rockstar North visionary remains largely hands-off. Benzies is officially on a “planned short-term sabbatical,” leaving Gerhard to manage the fallout while the future of MindsEye remains precarious.

Source: gta.com.ua

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Severing Ties With IO Interactive

Allegations of Industrial Sabotage

Leslie Benzies Addresses Personal Rumors and Current Absence

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