MindsEye’s Disastrous Launch Threatens IO Interactive’s Publishing Ambitions
The failure of MindsEye, one of the most poorly received games of the year, is sending ripple effects beyond its developer, Build a Rocket Boy, and may derail IO Interactive’s publishing expansion plans.
In a new IGN interview, IO Interactive CEO Hakan Abrak admitted that while the studio saw potential in the world and ideas behind MindsEye, the final product fell far short of expectations. IOI had partnered with Build a Rocket Boy to distribute the game as part of its IOI Partners publishing push, but the disastrous launch has made the company rethink its approach. Abrak confirmed that IO Interactive will now focus exclusively on self-publishing its own titles, such as the highly anticipated 007 First Light, rather than supporting external projects.
MindsEye launched to overwhelmingly negative reviews, with critics and players alike describing it as unfinished, clunky, and lacking in compelling gameplay. Technical problems and poor design choices compounded its reception, leaving the game with some of the worst scores of the year. Efforts to improve the experience have been inconsistent, as the development team reportedly faced layoffs shortly after release, slowing the pace of updates. Planned post-launch content, including a much-hyped Hitman crossover, has been delayed indefinitely, and Abrak’s comments suggest it may never arrive.
For IO Interactive, which has thrived in recent years with the Hitman World of Assassination trilogy and is now building excitement for its James Bond project, the MindsEye fallout underscores the risks of branching into third-party publishing. What was supposed to be a promising new revenue stream has instead become a cautionary tale, raising questions about whether IOI will attempt to revive its publishing strategy in the future.
MindsEye remains available on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S, but its troubled state has already cast a long shadow on both Build a Rocket Boy’s prospects and IO Interactive’s ambitions beyond its own IP.
Do you think IO Interactive should give publishing another chance down the line, or is it better off focusing only on its own creations like 007 First Light and Hitman?
