Build A Rocket Boy, the studio founded by former Rockstar Games production lead Leslie Benzies, has been generating buzz for its upcoming game
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In the midst of Edinburgh’s bustling port town of Leith, amidst towering dockyards and newly developed apartment blocks, lies a former casino. Inside, a unique transformation is underway as a gaming industry luminary brings his vision of the future to life. This visionary, once responsible for the creation of the iconic Grand Theft Auto games, is leading a new construction project that promises to revolutionize the gaming landscape. The building’s surroundings may be in a state of flux, with fences and construction crews at every turn, but inside, the future of gaming is taking shape. Video game Everywhere crams the ambition of GTA inside a Roblox competitor.
Leslie Benzies, the former production lead of Rockstar Games’ core studio, Rockstar North in Edinburgh, was instrumental in the development of the groundbreaking Grand Theft Auto franchise alongside Dan and Sam Houser. However, after a bitter falling out with the Houser brothers that resulted in a lawsuit over unpaid royalties, Benzies embarked on a new venture. His new studio, Build A Rocket Boy, located in Leith, as well as ancillary studios in Budapest and Montpellier, is currently working on a bold new project called Everywhere.
Everywhere is an ambitious online world that boasts an open-ended gameplay experience with elements of shooting and racing. But it’s more than just a game. Benzies has designed it to be a platform that encourages user-generated content creation. He hopes Everywhere will follow in the footsteps of Roblox, becoming a vibrant, creative hub where players can not only play but also design and publish their own games.
As Benzies continues to build his vision of the future of gaming, it’s clear that he’s striving to create something that’s not just a game, but a community, a creative platform, and a place where players can fully immerse themselves in their own imaginative worlds.
Build A Rocket Boy, the studio founded by former Rockstar Games production lead Leslie Benzies, has been generating buzz for its upcoming game Everywhere. But there’s another surprise project in the works as well: MindsEye, described as an “original triple-A action-adventure game.” Featuring realistic visuals, performance-captured cutscenes, and a near-future conspiracy storyline, MindsEye seems to be a natural successor to the Grand Theft Auto series that Benzies was instrumental in creating. From the looks of the initial trailer, it will feature driving and shooting gameplay as well.
What sets MindsEye apart, however, is that it will be published exclusively within Everywhere, the open-ended online world that Build A Rocket Boy is creating. This is a unique twist on the traditional model of game development and publishing, but it’s not without precedent. In fact, according to court documents, Benzies claimed that the Houser brothers were initially uninterested in the development of Grand Theft Auto Online and left him to his own devices. But when he took credit for his work, they were offended. GTA Online eventually became a massive, self-sustaining world that outstripped the popularity of its parent game, and now Benzies is taking that concept even further by launching a single-player game within the larger online game.
With Benzies at the helm as game director, MindsEye promises to be a thrilling addition to the world of gaming, and its innovative approach to publishing may well set a new standard for the industry.
During a live demo of Everywhere at the Leith studio, Polygon and other members of the press are guided by assistant game director Adam Whiting. The studio is confident that the game, which has secured backing from Chinese gaming giant NetEase, will enter beta on PC later this year, with console versions to follow. The game feels smooth and stable, and the world is vibrant and full of striking sci-fi architecture in the central hub Utropia. There are also extensive wilderness areas such as forests, lava fields, and canyons to explore. The game’s art style is reminiscent of a slightly more refined and realistic version of Fortnite.
The different districts in Utropia give players a glimpse of what they can expect to do in the game. For example, there is a Combat District that features chaotic, laser-based deathmatches reminiscent of Quake, as well as a Racing District that allows players to engage in arcade-style racing with futuristic buggies. In the Entertainment District, players can access curated player creations and other experiences, including MindsEye, which will be available eventually. In addition, The Collection allows players to customize, build, and browse. One particularly interesting concept is that of Portals, which can be placed anywhere in the game and allow players to jump to any experience or location, much like a hyperlink.
While the world of Everywhere looks inviting, the game’s main purpose is to offer players a blank canvas, which might explain the generic art style. However, the gameplay seems basic and not as engaging. The most exciting aspect is ARC-adia, the tool that players can use to create their own content with ease. This tool enables players to design assets and set up game logic through a graphical interface. It’s straightforward yet potent, much like Sony’s Dreams. During the demo, we saw how players could use ARC-adia to create their own mission, complete with combat, platforming, puzzles, and a boss fight set in a Portal-style lab environment.
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