MindEye’s Rocky Launch: A “GTA-like” Game Plagued by Glitches and Disappointment

Every year, the gaming world eagerly awaits new titles that promise to push boundaries, tell incredible stories, or redefine familiar genres. One of the most anticipated releases in recent memory was “MindEye,” a third-person action-adventure game that aimed to capture the open-world feel of classics like Grand Theft Auto, all set in a futuristic, tech-driven city. Developed by Build a Rocket Boy, a studio founded by former GTA lead Leslie Benzies, the hype was real. Fans expected a polished experience, a fresh take on a beloved style of game.

However, since its launch on June 10, 2025, “MindEye” has been hit by a wave of negative reviews and widespread player complaints. What was promised as a thrilling, cinematic journey has, for many, turned into a frustrating, glitch-ridden experience. From bizarre character animations to game-breaking bugs and questionable design choices, “MindEye” has become a stark example of how a highly anticipated game can stumble right out of the gate. Let’s dive into what went wrong, why players are so disappointed, and what this means for game launches in the modern era.

MindEye’s Vision: A Futuristic “Redrock” Experience

“MindEye” throws players into the shoes of Jacob Diaz, a former special-ops soldier haunted by fragmented memories from his “MindsEye neural implant.” The game is set in the near-future fictional desert city of Redrock, a visually striking metropolis where technology reigns supreme, with AI, robotics, and advanced experimentation at its core. The premise promised intense combat, high-octane driving, and a thought-provoking story about technology colliding with ambition.

The comparisons to Grand Theft Auto were inevitable, not just because of Leslie Benzies’ involvement, but also due to the third-person perspective, focus on driving, and a city environment designed to feel alive. Promotional materials showed off impressive cinematics and a sleek sci-fi aesthetic, leading many to believe “MindEye” could be a fresh contender in the open-world action genre. It launched on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, aiming for a broad audience.

The Crash Landing: Glitches, Bugs, and Broken Promises

Almost immediately upon release, “MindEye” began to draw sharp criticism. Social media platforms, gaming forums, and review sites were flooded with players sharing their frustrating experiences. The game quickly earned a “Mostly Negative” review score on platforms like Steam, a harsh reality for a major title.

Here’s a breakdown of the common complaints that have left players feeling short-changed:

1. Game-Breaking Bugs: Players reported a wide array of technical issues, ranging from minor annoyances to critical bugs that halted progress. These included:

1. Crashes and Freezes: The game frequently crashing to the desktop or freezing mid-mission, forcing players to restart.
2. Corrupted Saves: Some players found their game saves becoming corrupted, losing hours of progress.
3. Mission Progression Issues: Objectives failing to trigger, non-player characters (NPCs) not appearing, or triggers for events simply not working, making missions impossible to complete.

2. Visual Glitches and Animation Woes: Despite its Unreal Engine 5 foundation, “MindEye” has been criticized for significant visual polish issues:

2. “Spaghettified” NPCs: Characters with distorted limbs, stretched textures, or models clipping through the environment.
3. Unnatural Animations: Jumpy, robotic, or simply missing animations for actions like taking cover, entering vehicles, or even basic movement. Enemies sometimes “blink” in and out of cover without smooth transitions.
4. Pop-in and Texture Loading: Objects and textures appearing suddenly or loading in slowly, breaking immersion.

3. Core Gameplay Shortcomings: Beyond the bugs, many reviews point to fundamental design flaws that make the game feel unfinished or poorly conceived:

3. Dull Missions: Many missions are described as repetitive, formulaic, and linear, often involving long, uninteresting drives followed by basic shooting galleries. Players expected more dynamic, open-world gameplay akin to GTA, but found rigid, constrained experiences.
4. Poor Enemy AI: Artificial intelligence for enemies is a frequent target of criticism. Enemies are reported to be “brain-dead,” standing still, running aimlessly, or failing to react logically, making combat unsatisfying and lacking challenge.
5. Limited Player Mechanics: Reviewers noted a surprising lack of basic actions for the protagonist, Jacob Diaz. No melee attacks, no evasive rolls, no ability to use weapons while driving, and an inability to enter vehicles from the passenger side, leading to frustrating moments.
6. Empty Open World: Despite the visually impressive city of Redrock, the world feels “empty and devoid of life.” Police often don’t respond to crimes, there’s no real reason to explore, and players are constantly hurried to the next mission, undermining the “open world” promise.

4. Performance Problems: Even on high-end PCs (with RTX 4080s), players reported inconsistent frame rates, stuttering, screen tearing, and choppy visuals, indicating poor optimization. This is particularly disappointing given the relatively high system requirements.

Developer Response: Hotfixes and Broader Implications

Developer Build a Rocket Boy and publisher IO Interactive have acknowledged the issues. Shortly after launch, a “MindsEye Hotfix Incoming” announcement was made, promising the “first in a series of patches” to address performance and bugs. This is a common response to rocky launches, but the sheer volume and severity of the issues suggest a long road ahead for the developers.

This situation highlights a growing trend in the gaming industry: the release of games that feel unfinished, relying on post-launch patches to fix fundamental problems. While “day one patches” are now common, “MindEye” seems to have launched with issues that go beyond minor tweaks, impacting core gameplay and player experience. This can severely damage a studio’s reputation, especially for a debut title from a highly anticipated new developer like Build a Rocket Boy, which included talent from the Grand Theft Auto series.

The “GTA-Like” Comparison: A Double-Edged Sword

The “GTA-like” label, while a huge draw due to the franchise’s immense popularity, has arguably become a double-edged sword for “MindEye.” On one hand, it generated massive hype and interest. On the other, it set an incredibly high bar for player expectations regarding open-world freedom, dynamic emergent gameplay, and polished mechanics – expectations “MindEye” simply couldn’t meet. When a game is compared to a titan like GTA, its flaws become even more glaring.

This launch reminds us that even studios with pedigree can stumble. Building a truly immersive and functional open world, particularly one with the complex physics and AI interactions needed for a “GTA-like” experience, is an enormous undertaking.

Learning from “MindEye”: What Gamers and Developers Can Take Away

For gamers, the “MindEye” launch serves as a cautionary tale. While pre-orders can be tempting, it reinforces the value of:

• Waiting for Reviews: Always check independent reviews and player feedback after launch before committing to a purchase. Sites like Metacritic, OpenCritic, and Steam user reviews are invaluable.
• Watching Raw Gameplay: Look for unedited gameplay videos rather than highly produced trailers, which often don’t reflect the final product’s performance or actual mechanics.
• Understanding Launch Issues: Be aware that many games today launch with bugs, but distinguish between minor glitches and fundamental problems that undermine the core experience.

For developers, the “MindEye” situation offers crucial lessons:

• The Importance of Polish: In today’s competitive market, a polished, functional game at launch is paramount. First impressions matter immensely.
• Managing Expectations: Be realistic about what the game can deliver, especially when compared to genre giants. Don’t over-promise features that the final product can’t sustain.
• Community Communication: Transparent and honest communication about development challenges and post-launch support is vital to rebuilding trust.

If you’re looking for a smooth, high-quality gaming experience, especially with demanding open-world titles, having a powerful and reliable gaming PC or a capable gaming laptop is crucial. Even the best games can struggle on outdated hardware, and a solid setup helps ensure you’re getting the best possible performance if the game is optimized. Investing in reliable hardware (like a top-tier CPU or GPU) means you’re ready for polished games that push graphical boundaries, whether they’re new releases or time-tested classics.

“MindEye” was launched with significant ambition, attempting to carve out its own space in the beloved “GTA-like” genre. However, its release has been marred by a flood of technical issues, fundamental gameplay shortcomings, and a general sense of disappointment among players. While developers are working on patches, the sheer scale of the problems means “MindEye” has a very long and difficult road ahead to win back the trust of the gaming community.

This incident serves as a powerful reminder that in the world of gaming, hype can only carry a game so far. Ultimately, it’s the polished gameplay, stable performance, and fulfilling experience that truly resonate with players. We can only hope that Build a Rocket Boy learns from this challenging launch and manages to turn “MindEye” into the game it promised to be.