IO Interactive has officially cut ties with MindsEye and canceled the planned Hitman DLC collaboration. The move ends any official crossover content between the Hitman franchise and Build A Rocket Boy’s recently launched game.
The canceled DLC would’ve brought Hitman-related content into MindsEye, creating a crossover between IOI’s flagship stealth franchise and the new release. With the publishing relationship now terminated, those plans are dead.
MindsEye launched earlier this year from Build A Rocket Boy, the studio led by Leslie Benzies. Benzies is best known for his work at Rockstar Games during the development of major Grand Theft Auto titles. The game was positioned as an ambitious project combining creative tools with action gameplay.
The launch didn’t go as planned. Reports indicate MindsEye struggled with poor sales and mixed reception. Some players reported technical issues at launch, though experiences varied by platform.
IOI Partners, the publishing arm of IO Interactive, had taken on MindsEye as part of its third-party publishing efforts. The developer is better known for creating games than publishing them, with the Hitman series as its main claim to fame.
Recent reports from IGN mentioned that Build A Rocket Boy sent “at-risk” emails to staff, suggesting potential restructuring. The same reporting indicated leadership blamed internal and external factors for the game’s struggles and expressed intent to relaunch MindsEye.
What happens now
IO Interactive continues work on its upcoming James Bond game, known as Project 007. The studio’s decision to end the MindsEye partnership appears designed to protect the Hitman brand from association with an underperforming release.
For Build A Rocket Boy, the loss of IOI as publisher means finding new distribution and support channels if they plan to continue with MindsEye. Whether the game remains available on current storefronts or gets the promised relaunch remains unclear.
