Thigs continue to sound not very ok at MindsEye developers Build A Rocket Boy. Around the same time as an” an ongoing redundancy process has reportedly seen all 300 of the studio’s UK staff sent emails informing them they’re at risk of losing their jobs, game director Leslie Benzies has allegedly told them BARB will somehow relaunch the troubled game.
Yeah, exactly. You what, Leslie? That’s the same Leslie who also reportedly blamed the rocky time MindsEye’s had following its launch on what IGN calls “internal and external saboteurs” in its latest report.
Despite the non-disclosure agreements, Battlefield leaks are still coming fast and freely via its closed playtest. The most recent leak has revealed a peek at the upcoming shooter’s free-to-play battle royale mode.
Battlefield dataminer Temporyal (via Insider Gaming), took to social media to share more unannounced details, including evidence that the map is set in California, insertion is via a CH-47 Chinook, and the “destructive ring [is] made of a compound called NXC.” We’re not yet clear on the lore behind why it’s there yet, though.
The info comes attached to a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it seven-second introductory cutscene that seems to show a squadron of helicopters heading towards a battle zone in a way that’ll look familiar to anyone who’s spent time with Call of Duty battle royale Warzone.
Here’s a short video clip showing the start of a Battlefield 6 Battle Royale match:
☀️ Map set in California 🚁 Insertion via CH-47 Chinook 🔥 Destructive ring made of a compound called “NXC”
EA has been playing its cards pretty close to its chest about the new Battlefield, and we still don’t know when, exactly, it will launch. But EA’s last financial report suggested it’ll come out by the end of March 2026.
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world’s biggest gaming sites and publications. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
Romero Games have announced in the wake of mass layoffs at Microsoft that funding for their next shooter has been pulled by its publisher. A number of former staff at the studio founded by Doom co-creator John Romero and Brenda Romero have since written on social media that they’ve lost their jobs as part of those MS cuts.
A statement posted to Romero Games‘ Twitter account attributed to Brenda Romero asserts that the game’s publisher, which it didn’t name, had opted to pull the funding for it “along with several other unannounced projects at other studios”.
Build A Rocket Boy, the Edinburgh, Scotland-based developer of MindsEye, has issued at-risk emails to its around 300-strong UK workforce following the disastrous launch of the game.
Sources familiar with the goings on inside the embattled studio told IGN at-risk emails were also sent to staff at PlayFusion, which BARB acquired late 2024. PlayFusion, whose CEO Mark Gerhard became co-CEO of BARB as part of the buyout, is working on a different game — a fast-paced FPS called Ascendant which was meant to come out this year.
Last month, IGN reported that BARB had begun a redundancy process following the release of MindsEye. The standard 45-day consultation process kicked off on June 23, which according to UK law is triggered when an employer proposes 100 or more redundancies within a 90-day period. IGN understands Build A Rocket Boy currently has around 300 UK employees, with 200 abroad.
At the time, BARB issued a statement confirming the redundancy process, insisting the cuts will let the studio “focus on delivering ongoing updates and performance optimization for MindsEye, while also ensuring the long-term success of Build A Rocket Boy’s future ambitions.”
All the while, MindsEye’s troubled launch saw the developer cancel sponsored streams, with reports of players securing refunds, even from the normally stubborn Sony, surfacing online.
On Steam, which does not paint the whole picture of MindsEye’s current popularity, the game hit a peak concurrent player count of 3,302 on launch, but had a 24-hour peak of just 46 players. At the time of this article’s publication, 26 people were playing on Steam, where MindsEye has a ‘mostly negative’ user review rating.
Story-driven action adventure game MindsEye was initially designed to be a part of Everywhere, the ‘Roblox for adults’ creation platform led by former Grand Theft Auto design chief Leslie Benzies. BARB eventually switched to focus on MindsEye, but it has so-far failed to do the business for the company.
Meanwhile, BARB sources told IGN that Benzies finally addressed staff following the release of MindsEye in a brief video call yesterday, July 2. According to two people present who asked not to be named in order to protect their careers, Benzies insisted BARB would bounce back and relaunch MindsEye, blaming the studio and the game’s struggles on internal and external saboteurs, among other things.
BARB sources told IGN that internally, there is a desire for a MindsEye redemption arc that would eventually see it become successful for the studio. But as staff face an anxious wait to discover their fate, there are serious questions over whether BARB will be able to fulfill its post-launch roadmap for content, including the promised multiplayer mode, on time.
Earlier this week, BARB released MindsEye’s third post-release update on console, with a PC release to follow. “We’ve watched hundreds of hours of gameplay footage and reviewed player feedback across multiple channels to prioritize the most pressing issues and improve the experience for all our console players,” the studio said.
Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
It’s been a long time since the last major Manor Lords update and it’ll likely be a while till the next. This might strike you as dismal news, if you adhere to the “death by a thousand patches” school of Steam early access, but you have to remember that Manor Lords is a city builder set in late 14th-century Franconia, when technology lolled along at the pace of a dying ox. Also, the developers Slavic Magic are carrying out a “full rework” of the game, rather than dolling things out in smaller patches. In particular, there’s a new building affinity system in development that may please fans of pollination. Any flowers reading this? The next update is for you, I guess.
Funding for its unannounced FPS has been “cancelled”.
Romero Games, the studio co-founded by DOOM co-creator and his wife, John & Brenda Romero, has been hit with layoffs after funding for an unannounced FPS was “cancelled”.
VideoGamer reports that the upcoming shooter was being funded by Microsoft, specifically Bethesda — which works on the current iteration of DOOM. Most of the studio’s output was on PC and mobile, but it did release the strategy RPG Empire of Sin on Switch back in 2020. And it goes without saying that John Romero is one of the most influential figures in the industry.
Helldivers 2 is Coming to Xbox on August 26: Pre-Order Today
Katherine BaskinSenior Community Manager, Arrowhead Games Studios
Summary
Helldivers 2 is coming to Xbox Series X|S August 26.
Dive into details of the upcoming third-person co-op shooter, Helldivers 2.
Join our ranks and fight off threats to Democracy in an ever-evolving Galactic War.
A new dawn is upon us. Super Earth is expanding its operations and opening new enlistment centres. Xbox players, your opportunity to enlist is coming when Helldivers 2deploys to Xbox Series X|S on August 26.
We spoke to Helldivers 2 Game Director Mikael Eriksson on what this launch means to the studio:
“We know gamers have been asking for this for some time and we are so excited to bring more Helldivers into our game. We have so much more in store for the future months and years – and the more players we have the more stories we can tell! The fight for Super Earth has only just begun.”
Soldier, it’s time to get you caught up.
Tools of the Trade
Helldivers 2 is a cooperative, third-person feast of destruction where you and up to three squad mates step into the boots of an elite class of soldiers whose mission is to spread peace, liberty, and Managed Democracy using the biggest, baddest, and most explosive tools in the galaxy.
You will have a host of superpowered, customizable primary weapons at your disposal, as well as the ability to call on more powerful weapons called stratagems during play – there’s no limit to the damage you can do to the enemies of democracy.
The Ongoing War
Once you’re enlisted, you’ll be our boots on ground, fighting in the Galactic War, a real-time metagame where players work together to complete operations, liberate planets, and spread Managed Democracy to the furthest reaches of the galaxy.
In 2184, after many years of peace, the enemies of Super Earth emerged again to challenge the supremacy of our liberty. The Helldivers, Super Earth’s peacekeeping force, have fought valiantly against these enemies.
The Helldivers have pushed back the scourge of the Terminids, a race of insect-like aliens whose only guiding principles are to reproduce and overwhelm. They’ve faced down the Automatons, the collective of bloodthirsty robots coded for murder and socialist violence. And they fought for the freedom of Super Earth against the Illuminate, a race of mind-controlling xenophobic aliens aided by powerful technology and a will to destroy humanity.
August will be here before we know it, which means we’ve got to get you officially enlisted – we start taking pre-orders for both the Standard Edition and the Super Citizen Edition of Helldivers 2 today! With cross play on all platforms, get ready to add your strength to our ranks.
Together Helldivers, we’ll even the odds and show the bugs, bots, and squids the true meaning of democracy.
See you on the frontlines – Helldivers 2 is coming to Xbox Series X|S on August 26, 2025! Get ready to give ’em hell.
Pre-order now for three armor sets:
• ‘TR-7 Ambassador of the Brand’ – Promotional armor made by SUMY Corp. as part of a highly successful marketing campaign for frozen yogurt.
• ‘TR-62 Knight’ – Crafted to deliver Justice to the darkest crevices of the galaxy.
• ‘TR-9 Cavalier of Democracy’ – Bearers of this armor ride no equine mount, but are nonetheless borne to battle atop the trusty steed of Liberty.
The Galaxy’s Last Line of Offence.
Enlist in the Helldivers and join the fight for freedom across a hostile galaxy in a fast, frantic, and ferocious third-person shooter.
URGENT BROADCAST – SUPER EARTH ARMED FORCES
Freedom. Peace. Democracy.
Your Super Earth-born rights. The key pillars of our civilization.
Of our very existence.
But the war rages on. And everything is once again under threat.
Join the greatest military force the galaxy has ever seen and make this a safe and free place to live.
BECOME A LEGEND
You will be assembled into squads of up to four Helldivers and assigned strategic missions.
Watch each other’s back – friendly fire is an unfortunate certainty of war, but victory without teamwork is impossible.
LOADOUTS
Rain down freedom from above, sneak through enemy territory, or grit your teeth and charge head-first into the jaws of combat.
How you deliver liberty is your choice; you’ll have access to a wide array of explosive firepower, life-saving armor and battle-changing stratagems… the jewel in every Helldiver’s arsenal.
REQUISITION
Super Earth recognises your hard work with valuable Requisition. Use it to access different rewards that benefit you, your squad, your destroyer ship and our overall war effort.
THREATS
Everything on every planet wants you dead. That’s what we’re dealing with.
Each enemy has distinct and unpredictable characteristics, tactics, and behavior – but they all fight ferociously and without fear or morality.
THE GALACTIC WAR
Capturing enemy planets, defending against invasions, and completing missions will contribute to our overall effort.
This war will be won or lost depending on the actions of everyone involved.
We stand together, or we fall apart.
Pre-order now for three armor sets:
• ‘TR-7 Ambassador of the Brand’ – Promotional armor made by SUMY Corp. as part of a highly successful marketing campaign for frozen yogurt.
• ‘TR-62 Knight’ – Crafted to deliver Justice to the darkest crevices of the galaxy.
• ‘TR-9 Cavalier of Democracy’ – Bearers of this armor ride no equine mount, but are nonetheless borne to battle atop the trusty steed of Liberty.
Edition includes:
– HELLDIVERS 2 full game for Xbox Series X|S.
– ‘DP-53 Savior of the Free’ Armour Set.
– ‘Will of the People’ Cape.
– ‘MP-98 Knight’ Weapon.
– Super Citizen Status.
– Stratagem Hero Ship Game.
– Premium Warbond Token
Enlist in the Helldivers and join the fight for freedom across a hostile galaxy in a fast, frantic, and ferocious third-person shooter.
URGENT BROADCAST – SUPER EARTH ARMED FORCES
Freedom. Peace. Democracy.
Your Super Earth-born rights. The key pillars of our civilization.
Of our very existence.
But the war rages on. And everything is once again under threat.
Join the greatest military force the galaxy has ever seen and make this a safe and free place to live.
BECOME A LEGEND
You will be assembled into squads of up to four Helldivers and assigned strategic missions.
Watch each other’s back – friendly fire is an unfortunate certainty of war, but victory without teamwork is impossible.*
LOADOUTS
Rain down freedom from above, sneak through enemy territory, or grit your teeth and charge head-first into the jaws of combat.
How you deliver liberty is your choice; you’ll have access to a wide array of explosive firepower, life-saving armour and battle-changing stratagems… the jewel in every Helldiver’s arsenal.
REQUISITION
Super Earth recognises your hard work with valuable Requisition. Use it to access different rewards that benefit you, your squad, your destroyer ship and our overall war effort.
THREATS
Everything on every planet wants you dead. That’s what we’re dealing with.
Each enemy has distinct and unpredictable characteristics, tactics, and behavior – but they all fight ferociously and without fear or morality.
THE GALACTIC WAR
Capturing enemy planets, defending against invasions, and completing missions will contribute to our overall effort.
This war will be won or lost depending on the actions of everyone involved.
We stand together, or we fall apart.
Helldivers 2 is developed by Arrowhead Game Studios and Nixxes Software. Gameplay requires internet access and paid-for subscription on console (sold separately).
Helldivers 2 is coming to Xbox Series X and S next month in a shock announcement that sees Sony publish a game on PlayStation’s rival consoles.
Arrowhead’s explosive co-op third-person shooter launches on Xbox on August 26, 2025, a livestream confirmed.
Developing…
Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
Warcraft Rumble was a high-profile attempt by Blizzard to bring the Warcraft universe into the lucrative mobile space. Development began in 2016, with the game itself releasing in 2023 as a free-to-play tower defense RTS inspired by the likes of Clash of Clans. The PC version launched late last year.
In a blog post, Blizzard admitted Warcraft Rumble “struggled to find its footing relative to our ambition for its long-term success,” and that recent attempts to improve the popularity of the game weren’t enough to sustain development.
The news comes as part of a bloodbath at Microsoft that saw 4%, or just over 9,000 staff, cut from the company. While the majority of those layoffs were outside the gaming business, Xbox studios were hit hard. Rare’s Everwild, for example, was canceled, as was the Perfect Dark reboot. The Initiative was closed.
Alex Apple, client engineer at Blizzard, took to LinkedIn to say they had been laid off “along with the entire Warcraft Rumble team.” Other developers on the game reported similar.
In its blog post, Blizzard said Warcraft Rumble will remain playable but will only receive updates focused on regular, systemic in-game events and bug fixes.
Dear Warcraft Rumble Community,
We have an important update on the future of Warcraft Rumble. After much deliberation, we’ve arrived at an extremely hard decision. Moving forward, we’ll continue supporting Rumble with updates focused on regular, systemic in-game events and bug fixes, but no new content.
Warcraft Rumble began development nine years ago as a love letter to Azeroth and launched back in 2023, reflecting input from enthusiastic players around the globe and the effort of a passionate team — some of whom continue to support Rumble or other Blizzard games, and some we’ve had to sadly part ways with. Since launch, Rumble has struggled to find its footing relative to our ambition for its long-term success, and for some time now the team has been listening to player feedback, refocusing in certain areas, and exploring different options. Some of that work showed signs of progress, but ultimately wasn’t enough to put the game on a path to sustainability.
During this transition, we are focused on supporting our teammates. We’re deeply grateful to everyone at Blizzard and in the community for helping bring Warcraft Rumble to life and embracing the joy that makes this game so special. Your enthusiasm and feedback mean the world to us.
Fans of the game reacted with disappointment to the news, but there is little surprise given how the game has gone over the last two years. Most players are now waving goodbye to Warcraft Rumble and its community, while sending messages of support to the affected developers.
Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
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