IO Interactive splits with MindsEye developer and ends Hitman collab

MindsEye developer Construct a Rocket Boy (BARB) has gone via critical drama just lately together with layoffs and accusations of sabotage. Now, the corporate is parting methods with its MindsEye co-publisher IOI Companions (the corporate behind Hitman writer IO Interactive) and assuming sole publishing obligations going ahead. It additionally signifies that a deliberate MindsEye and Hitman collaboration might be cancelled, the businesses introduced in a press release.

“IOI Companions’ involvement with MindsEye involves an finish, apart from any important transitional capabilities required to switch publisher-of-record standing to Construct A Rocket Boy,” the businesses said. “In gentle of this separation, the Hitman mission introduced in June 2025, deliberate as a crossover occasion inside MindsEye, will not be launched.” They acknowledged that the announcement is prone to spur disappointment amongst funs and thanked the neighborhood for its assist.

The publishing deal was a primary for IOI companions and regarded promising, contemplating the pedigree of BARB’s co-CEO Leslie Benzies as a former Rockstar North president and GTA producer. Nevertheless, MindsEye was extensively criticized upon launch because of bugs, a lackluster story and mediocre gameplay.

On the identical time, workers penned an open letter accusing Benzies of mismanaging the sport and bungling layoffs. In response, Benzies and co-CEO Mark Gerhard mentioned that unfavorable pre-release suggestions took place to due inside and exterior sabotage, a declare that workers reportedly doubted. In any case, BARB is now by itself and has a tall order to save lots of MindsEye, significantly after latest layoffs.