Former Grand Theft Auto Producer's New Studio Faces Layoffs

Build A Rocket Boy, a game development studio led by former Grand Theft Auto producer Leslie Benzies, is facing job cuts. The exact number of affected employees is not specified, but the company acknowledges the necessity of these changes to make the studio more resilient and meet project requirements. Founded in Edinburgh with additional locations including Budapest, Montpellier, and China, and partially funded by NetEase, Build A Rocket Boy has been developing Everywhere, an ambitious game that empowers players to create and share their experiences within a new universe. The Unreal Engine 5 game promises user-friendly content creation tools and cinematic action reminiscent of Benzies' previous work on GTA.

These layoffs are part of a more significant trend, as the gaming industry has seen numerous job cuts from various companies throughout 2023 and 2024, including heavyweights like Microsoft, Unity, and several development studios. The release date for Everywhere is currently unknown, and while it's slated for a PC release, it may eventually reach other platforms.

"Everywhere" is an upcoming PC game developed by Build A Rocket Boy, a studio headed by Leslie Benzies, a former Grand Theft Auto producer. It focuses on providing players with a platform to create and share content within a vast new universe. The game is built using Unreal Engine 5 and aims to offer both a user-friendly content creation system named Arcadia and high-quality cinematic action.

Leslie Benzies is a significant figure in the video game industry, known for his work as a producer on the Grand Theft Auto series during his time at Rockstar North. After leaving Rockstar, Benzies founded Build A Rocket Boy to develop new gaming experiences, with Everywhere being one of the most anticipated projects. Given the game's ambitious scope and the use of advanced Unreal Engine 5 technology, it could potentially be a disruptor in the open-world and content creation segments of the industry. However, the recent layoffs highlight the challenges even experienced industry professionals face in an increasingly competitive market.