Mindseye CEO Alleges €1 Million Sabotage Campaign and Says the Culprits Have Been “Caught”

The games industry is no stranger to drama, but every so often, a story drops that feels less like a development hiccup and more like the cold open of a prestige thriller. That’s exactly where Mindseye and Build A Rocket Boy now find themselves after co‑CEO Mark Gerhard told employees they’ve “caught the guys” behind what he claims was a €1 million‑plus sabotage campaign targeting the studio and its upcoming game.

And if that sounds dramatic, buckle up — because the details only get stranger from here.

Gerhard Opens an Internal Meeting With a Bombshell

In a late‑January internal meeting obtained by Insider Gaming, Gerhard didn’t ease into the conversation. He opened the call by announcing that the studio had identified the people responsible for sabotaging Mindseye.

According to him, the culprit wasn’t a rogue employee or a disgruntled contractor — it was a “very big American company.” He emphasized that it’s “probably not the company you’re thinking of,” which only adds to the mystery.

Gerhard alleges that this unnamed corporation funneled over €1 million in 2025 into a coordinated smear campaign designed to damage both Mindseye and Build A Rocket Boy’s reputation.

And the alleged operation? It reads like a conspiracy board.

The Alleged Sabotage Network

Gerhard claims the American company hired a UK‑based group called Ritual Network — which he described as “a bunch of gangsters” — to execute the campaign. According to him, Ritual Network then paid:

• Several influencers
• Three journalists
• And even Build A Rocket Boy employees

…to undermine the studio from the inside.

One of the influencers allegedly involved is Cyberboi, whom Gerhard recently threatened with a cease‑and‑desist over Discord. Gerhard says all individuals involved “will be served in person” with criminal complaints for espionage, sabotage, and criminal interference.

“This is the start of our comeback,” he told employees.

Ritual Network Responds — and Denies Everything

Insider Gaming reached out to Ritual Network, and the company didn’t mince words. They said:

“We are not involved in the matter you referenced… Any suggestion that Ritual Network is connected to these allegations is incorrect.”

No hedging. No softening. A full denial.

Build A Rocket Boy, meanwhile, refused to comment on the leaked meeting directly, but did confirm they have evidence of a coordinated campaign to damage the studio’s reputation.

Gerhard Plans to Put the Alleged Saboteurs In the Game

In a twist that feels ripped straight from a meta‑narrative spy thriller, Gerhard told employees he plans to “own the narrative” by putting some of the alleged saboteurs into an upcoming Mindseye spy mission.

Insider Gaming reports that this mission is a reworked version of the now‑cancelled Hitman mission from the studio’s former partnership with IOI.

“We’re storytellers,” Gerhard said. “Let’s have some fun with it.”

The Cybersecurity Twist: Employee Monitoring Software Rolled Out Quietly

The meeting then took a sharp turn into another controversy: Build A Rocket Boy’s sudden rollout of Teramind, an employee‑monitoring platform that tracks keystrokes, screen activity, and user behavior.

Employees weren’t told about it.

Gerhard acknowledged the backlash, saying he “hates” that monitoring is necessary but claims it was implemented to catch insider threats — the alleged 1% causing problems for the other 99.9%.

He says he hopes the software can be removed within 90 days, and took “full responsibility” for the poor communication.

A “Defining Chapter” Ahead

Gerhard closed the meeting by calling February 4th a “defining chapter” for Mindseye as the game transitions into live‑service operations. He reiterated that the studio is now taking legal action and that employees will finally get a fair chance to have their work seen “without manipulation.”

It’s a dramatic promise — and one that sets the stage for a turbulent few months ahead.

What These Allegations Mean for the Studio’s Future

This isn’t just another indie‑studio‑under‑pressure story. It’s a tangled web of alleged sabotage, corporate espionage, influencer involvement, employee monitoring, and a CEO who’s ready to turn real‑world drama into in‑game content.

If even a fraction of these allegations hold up, this could become one of the most bizarre behind‑the‑scenes sagas the industry has seen in years.