MindsEye Blacklisted Mission Review: A Disappointing 2026 Update

The Rocket Boy studio, officially known as Build a Rocket Boy, has released its latest content update for the narrative shooter MindsEye, titled Blacklisted. Released on June 10, 2025, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S/X, the update was framed by co-CEOs Leslie Benzies and Mark Gerhard as a vital component in exposing alleged sabotage against the developer. In our coverage at In Game News, we have examined the mission to determine if it meets the expectations set by the studio's leadership.

Understanding the MindsEye Blacklisted Mission

The release of Blacklisted follows a period of public claims from Build a Rocket Boy regarding external interference. Players expecting a definitive look at these claims may find the content lacking in substance. The mission serves as a standalone narrative experience that deviates from the core game's initial scope. According to reports from former staff, including lead animator Chris Wilson, the mission was originally designed as a crossover featuring the Hitman franchise's Agent 47. Following the termination of a publishing agreement with IO Interactive in March, the assets were repurposed to feature a new protagonist, Julia Black.

The mission structure is straightforward, focusing on the assassination of a drug dealer and an arms dealer on behalf of an agency called Meridian. The experience is brief, with most players able to complete the content in under an hour. This short duration is notable given the technical limitations present in the build.

Technical Limitations and Gameplay Issues

Players on PC and consoles will encounter several technical hurdles that impact the experience. One of the primary concerns is the checkpoint system. While the game tracks progress during the mission, it fails to save this data if the player exits the application. This forces users to restart the entire mission if they close the game, a design choice that complicates the experience for those who cannot complete the content in a single session.

Furthermore, the environment of Redrock City displays inconsistencies in logic and world-building. For instance, police presence is restricted to fixed locations, appearing static even when the player engages in chaotic activities, such as driving a hijacked limousine through crowds of pedestrians. These issues suggest a lack of polish in the mission's environmental design.

The Production Value of Blacklisted

The presentation of the mission has also drawn scrutiny. The promotional trailer for Blacklisted utilizes royalty-free music, which contrasts with the high-budget expectations often associated with projects led by former Rockstar Games developers. The narrative itself lacks depth, failing to provide the promised "evidence of sabotage" that was heavily marketed in the lead-up to the release. The mission attempts to include references, such as a masked DJ encounter, but these moments fail to land with any significant impact.

Is MindsEye Blacklisted Mission Worth Playing?

To assist our readers in evaluating the content, we have summarized the key aspects of the Blacklisted update below:

For more information on the developer's history, see our Build a Rocket Boy coverage. We continue to monitor the situation surrounding the studio's MindsEye narrative shooter review 2026 updates to provide the most accurate information to our audience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the MindsEye Blacklisted mission?
Blacklisted is a narrative shooter mission for the game MindsEye, released on June 10, 2025, that tasks players with controlling an assassin named Julia Black to eliminate high-profile targets.

Is MindsEye Blacklisted mission worth playing?
The mission is widely considered low-effort, featuring a short runtime of under an hour and significant technical oversights, such as a lack of save-game persistence for checkpoints.

What is the consensus on MindsEye Blacklisted mission?
The general consensus is that the mission lacks meaningful narrative depth, quality gameplay, and fails to provide the promised evidence of corporate sabotage surrounding the developer.