MindsEye Studio Shutdown Report, Wo Long 2 Date, Fire Emblem Reviews
Build A Rocket Boy’s future is in doubt after another wave of layoffs around MindsEye, while Team Ninja gives Wo Long 2 a March 2027 release date and a playable alpha demo . Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave also heads into its Nintendo Switch 2 launch with highly positive early reviews
.
Build A Rocket Boy and Heart Machine Face Major Layoff Waves
Build A Rocket Boy, the Scottish studio behind MindsEye and founded by Grand Theft Auto veteran Leslie Benzies, is reportedly facing another round of layoffs and may be shutting down . Multiple staff members have posted farewell messages, while one HR employee said he would be “seeing BARB through till the very end,” referring to the company by its initials
.
The latest reports follow MindsEye, Build A Rocket Boy’s troubled action game, and leave the studio’s future uncertain . The Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain has also commented on the “heartbreaking job losses” at the company
.
Heart Machine is facing an even broader cut: the studio behind Hyper Light Drifter, Solar Ash, Possessor(s), and Hyper Light Breaker has laid off “nearly everyone” following the cancellation of an unannounced game . Hyper Light Breaker remains in Early Access, but the report does not indicate how the layoffs will affect its development
.
Wardogs Developer Bulkhead Faces Backlash Over Crunch Comments
Bulkhead CEO Joe Brammer says the developer behind Wardogs checks prospective employees’ social media accounts and avoids candidates who are “constantly tweeting anti-crunch messaging” . Brammer also says crunch is “going to happen” at some point, framing long hours as part of a balancing act during development
.
The comments prompt backlash, after which Brammer issues a further statement about the studio’s work culture . The controversy arrives as Wardogs receives strong attention as a new PC shooter, with launch analysis placing it ahead of Arc Raiders and Helldivers 2 in early Steam sales performance
.
Wo Long 2: Wings of Ember Gets March 2027 Release Date and Demo
Wo Long 2: Wings of Ember launches on March 4, 2027, for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2, with day-one availability on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate . Koei Tecmo and Team Ninja announce the date alongside a free playable alpha demo for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S
.
The demo is available through September 30 and offers an early look at the Three Kingdoms-inspired action RPG, including an in-progress character creator and online multiplayer for up to three players . Players who complete the demo can also receive an in-game reward for the full release
.
Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave Reviews Arrive Ahead of Switch 2 Launch
Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave launches on Nintendo Switch 2 on September 17, with the review embargo now lifted . Nintendo and Intelligent Systems’ latest strategy RPG earns praise for its sprawling story, deep combat systems, character work, and side quests
.
GameSpot calls Fortune’s Weave a new high point for the series, while VGC describes it as Nintendo’s most ambitious RPG yet . Reviewers do flag some weaknesses, including uneven pacing, a single save slot, and difficulty that can feel diluted in places
.