MindsEye: A Deep Dive into the GTA Creator's Ambitious New Universe

Last Updated: October 22, 2025

From the mind of Leslie Benzies, the former president of Rockstar North and a key visionary behind the modern Grand Theft Auto series, comes one of the most ambitious and enigmatic projects in recent memory. His new studio, Build a Rocket Boy, is developing MindsEye, a high-fidelity, episodic action-adventure game. However, MindsEye isn't just a standalone title; it's the flagship experience within a much larger, user-focused platform called Everywhere. Amidst immense anticipation, years of development, and recent studio restructuring, the gaming world is watching closely to see if this grand vision can become the industry's next landmark experience.

What is MindsEye?

At its core, MindsEye is a AAA, story-driven action-adventure game. Trailers and early previews showcase a slick, near-future sci-fi world steeped in corporate conspiracy, advanced technology, and high-octane gameplay that evokes the cinematic quality Benzies' past work is famous for. Players will unravel a compelling narrative that unfolds episodically, promising a deep and evolving single-player experience. The game aims to deliver the graphical fidelity and polished mechanics expected from a top-tier studio, serving as a powerful demonstration of the engine and tools Build a Rocket Boy has created.

The Everywhere Connection: A Digital Universe

Crucially, MindsEye cannot be discussed without understanding Everywhere. It isn't simply a game launcher; it's a sprawling creative platform designed to be a "real-life Ready Player One." Within Everywhere, players can socialize, explore, and, most importantly, create and share their own games and experiences using a powerful suite of in-game tools known as Arcadia.

MindsEye exists as a world within Everywhere. It acts as both a major draw to the platform and the ultimate showcase of Arcadia's potential. The goal is for players to seamlessly transition from playing a chapter of MindsEye to exploring a user-created world or building their own, all within the same ecosystem. This symbiotic relationship is the project's most unique and challenging feature: the success of MindsEye is intrinsically tied to the adoption and success of the entire Everywhere platform.

Navigating High Hopes and Industry Headwinds

The road to launch has not been without its challenges. In early 2024, Build a Rocket Boy confirmed it was undergoing a restructuring that resulted in layoffs, impacting roles in publishing, QA, and other departments across its international studios. This news, while reflecting a difficult and widespread trend across the gaming industry, naturally raised concerns among fans and observers about the project's development timeline and focus.

For a studio managing a project of this immense scale and complexity, such restructuring is a significant hurdle. However, development has continued to push forward. The studio ran a closed alpha test in late 2023 and has been gearing up for a more public "Builders Beta" phase, suggesting that despite internal shifts, the team remains focused on getting the platform and its flagship game into the hands of players.

The Future of an Epic

The long-term prospects for MindsEye and Everywhere hinge on several key factors. Can Build a Rocket Boy deliver a narrative experience in MindsEye that rivals the genre's best? Will the Arcadia tools be accessible enough for casual creators yet deep enough for dedicated builders? Most importantly, can a single platform successfully merge a curated, AAA narrative game with an open-ended, user-generated content model?

The release of MindsEye represents far more than just a new game. It's the culmination of nearly a decade of development and a massive bet on a new type of interactive entertainment. While the journey has been marked by the same real-world challenges facing the entire industry, the project's ambition remains undeniable. As the platform moves closer to a full public launch, it stands as a powerful demonstration of a veteran developer's commitment to pushing boundaries and building not just a game, but a new world for players to inhabit.