IO Interactive CEO Hakan Abrak has commented on the disastrous launch of Build A Rocket Boy’s action game MindsEye back in June, stating it wasn’t what the company hoped for.
IOI provided assistance distributing the game through its IOI Partners publishing arm. Now, at a recent event for the company’s forthcoming Bond game, Abrak spoke to IGN about MindsEye’s launch.
“The initial talks we had with those guys were to support them,” said Abrak. “We thought they had some great ideas and a great world in the background that they were building, and hopefully they’ll get the opportunity to show more of that in the future. And we just wanted to help them distribute the game.”
“Well, that was definitely tough, right?,” Abrak continued, speaking of the launch itself. “It was a tough reception. It wasn’t what they hoped for, and also what we didn’t hope for at IOI Partners. They’re working hard on turning that around to regain the trust of the gamers out there, and they have tons of potential and content they’re working on. So hopefully they’ll succeed with that in the future.”
Ahead of the game’s release, the co-CEO of Build A Rocket Boy suggested negative reaction to MindsEye had been paid for in a “concerted effort” against the studio. At the time, Abrak stated: “I don’t believe that.”
Two studio execs departed the studio just one week before it debuted and then, once released, it was clear MindsEye was full of technical issues. The studio promised performance updates, but later a Hitman crossover mission was delayed by IO Interactive.
So, has the Hitman and Bond studio been too burned by its work with Build A Rocket Boy to continue with similar publishing work?
“So, IO Interactive will publish our own games internally,” said Abrak. “IOI Partners? That remains to be seen.”
MindsEye received a one star review from Eurogamer. “Although it shows some early promise, MindsEye is sunk by a ridiculous story, inconsistent writing, poorly designed mission scenarios, and utterly atrocious combat,” it reads.
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