MindsEye: GTA Legend's New Game Flies Under the Radar
Leslie Benzies is a name that's big business in gaming. He is the producer of Grand Theft Auto classics from GTA 3 all the way up to GTA 5. So when news breaks of his new venture, MindsEye, you'd expect the internet to be humming. And yet, with its June 10th release date staring us in the face, the hype is noticeably low-key.
What is going on here? Let us try to piece together what MindsEye actually is and why it is not making the headlines we might anticipate.
Welcome to Redrock: Everything We Know About MindsEye
Developer Build a Rocket Boy describes MindsEye as a single-player, narrative-driven action-adventure thriller. We assume the role of Jacob Diaz, a veteran soldier haunted by memories linked to a neural implant – the aforementioned "MindsEye." The setting is Redrock, a near-future city where technology, AI, and all-powerful corporations rule. Think consumer bots doing daily tasks and an all-knowing algorithm connecting it all.
The narrative sees Jacob uncovering facts intermingled with high-tech experimentation and unchecked military might. He won't be alone in his mission, hinting at powerful shadowy characters. We've seen bits of gameplay that include third-person shooting, driving, and even air combat. The game developers promise high-octane action in these different scenarios.
Shadows of the Past: The GTA Connection
You can't talk about MindsEye without mentioning Benzies' history. The trailers point to glossy graphics, intense action, muscle cars, helicopters, and crime and corruption in a fictional American city – all of which are surely elements of his previous work. However, the team at Build a Rocket Boy seems keen to create its own identity.
In contrast to the open worlds of Benzies' prior games, MindsEye appears to be a more linear, narrative-focused game that runs for around 15 hours. It's an interesting choice in a world where huge open-world or live-service games can dominate the discourse. Is this focus on a more focused, cinematic narrative a part of why it's distinct, perhaps less immediately palpable than a new GTA?
Marketing Enigma or Misaligned Expectations?
So why the relative silence? Is the marketing simply not hitting the place? Or is a linear, story-driven shooter, even one looking this polished, simply a tougher sell in 2025? Perhaps the initial confusion with the separate but related "Everywhere" project (a user-generated content platform MindsEye was previously involved with) muddied the waters.
For whatever reason, Build a Rocket Boy and publisher IO Interactive have a mountain to climb in order to build momentum for the June launch.
Release Details and Pre-Order Perks
If you're keen, here are the need-to-knows:
- Release Date: June 10th, 2025
- Platforms: PC (Steam, Epic Games Store), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X
- Price: $59.99 / €59.99 / £54.99
- Both digital and physical pre-orders are available.
- Pre-ordering now grants a free upgrade to the Deluxe Edition.
- Deluxe Edition includes a "Premium Pass" (with a promise of upcoming content packs like an "Exotic Pack," a Horde Mode, and more missions through late 2025 and early 2026) and some cosmetic skins for weapons, vehicles, and your character.
What's Your Take?
MindsEye has the pedigree, the look, and a suitably plausible near-future backdrop. It's promising lots of action and a thinking person's plot. And yet it's as if it's struggling to get into the spotlight.
What do you think? Is MindsEye on your radar? Why do you think it's flying under the radar? Get the discussion started.
