Leslie Benzies, co-founder and co-CEO of Build a Rocket Boy, the developer behind MindsEye, is reportedly on ‘temporary leave’ from the firm. This was confirmed by the other CEO, Mark Gerhard, who recently revealed an alleged €1 million plot to sabotage BARB and MindsEye.
Per an email from Gerhard to the wider company, Benzies is taking a ‘well-earned temporary leave to recharge after more than a year of working around the clock.’ But following that, Gerhard stressed he’d be guiding the company forward and signed off his email as ‘CEO’ and not ‘co-CEO’.
UPDATE: We’ve since heard from BARB, who confirmed that ‘Leslie is Co-CEO. Following the development of the recent update, he is simply taking a short, planned break following this intense period of work.’
Where Did Leslie Go?
It has been a tough few weeks for the team at Build a Rocket Boy. After the disastrous launch of MindsEye, the studio’s inaugural game, and several bouts of layoffs, the team was hit again by yet another scandal earlier this month. Leslie Benzies, formerly of Rockstar North fame, found himself accused of sexual assault in a recently uncovered ‘Epstein file.’
He categorically denied the assault but confirmed he was in a consensual relationship with his accuser.
In a new report published by GamesIndustry, it was revealed that an email posted by Mark Gerhard after an all-hands call confirmed Leslie Benzies’ temporary departure from the company.
Gerhard worded the email quite strangely, making it sound like the absence might be a little longer than you might assume:
He has our deepest gratitude, and with the leadership team and your support, I will guide us forward.
The report expanded with comments from former and current employees at BARB, one of whom explained:
I don’t think BARB survives this crisis. I believe the end is coming for BARB, and it’s not heralded by saboteurs, but by Mark and Leslie themselves.
That was in response to Gerhard’s claim of having evidence that Build a Rocket Boy and MindsEye were subject to a ruthless and targeted campaign to bring the brand down. Insider Gaming recently published a report detailing this exact claim.
Are you wondering when, or if, Leslie Benzies will return to Build a Rocket Boy? Let us know your thoughts on the Insider Gaming Discord server.
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Grant has been gaming for 30+ years and in the industry for 10+. You'll probably find him playing a post-apocalyptic game or an extraction shooter somewhere.
More from Grant Taylor-Hill
Was it the Epstein list he denied? Curious if Sam Houser at Rockstar is next?
Exactly Rockstar is named and they had a situation which alligns with the allegation in the Epstein files. This would include Dan Houser and Absurd as well.
i dont think dan houser has anything to do with the epstein files. sam houser had nothing to do with jeffrey either. it was leslie’s ex who accused that sam knew the “abusive relationship” between leslie and his ex
He was in the files?? Hilarious how awful this guy is and it keeps getting worse