Ex-GTA developer's studio Build A Rocket Boy faces closure after debut game underperforms

Build A Rocket Boy, the video game studio founded by former Rockstar North president Leslie Benzies, has entered administration after its debut title failed to meet commercial expectations.

Benzies, who was a longtime figure at Rockstar North and closely associated with the Grand Theft Auto series during his time there, set up Build A Rocket Boy after departing Rockstar, with ambitions to build a major new studio and a large-scale game project.

A costly debut

The studio's debut game, which had been in development for a number of years and reportedly involved significant investment, did not achieve the level of commercial success needed to sustain the company's operations. Entering administration is a formal insolvency process in the UK that can lead to restructuring, sale of assets, or closure, depending on how the process unfolds.

The video game industry has seen a wave of studio closures and layoffs in recent years, as rising development costs for large-scale titles have made it increasingly difficult for games to recoup their investment, particularly for new studios without an established, reliable player base.

It remains to be seen what will happen to Build A Rocket Boy's assets, technology and staff as the administration process proceeds, and whether any of the studio's work could be salvaged through a sale or restructuring.

The case adds to a growing list of high-profile studio struggles across the games industry, underscoring the financial risks associated with large, ambitious game development projects.