Build a Rocket Boy is in deep trouble, and its latest move—adding a 6v6 "grenade football" multiplayer mode to MindsEye—isn't fooling anyone. The Update 8 patch dropped a mode that looks like Rocket League but with grenade launchers, and it's tanking hard. The game's peak concurrent players on Steam in the past 24 hours rose by just 12, hitting a grand total of 36.
The Announcement: Explosive Football, No Rules
Update 8 for MindsEye introduces a 6v6 multiplayer mode officially described as "grenade football." The pitch: players grab a grenade launcher, line up shots, and blast a ball into the net. The trailer screams "multiplayer mayhem," but the community's response is a brutal "put the fries in the bag, man." YouTube comments are filled with references to GTA V and Rocket League, questioning why a single-player narrative game suddenly pivoted to chaotic sports.
Why This Now: A Studio in Crisis
Build a Rocket Boy has been making headlines for all the wrong reasons. Earlier this year, its publishing partnership with IO Interactive ended abruptly. The studio's co-CEO recently alleged that €1 million was spent sabotaging the game, and has vowed to pursue legal action. The grenade football mode feels like a desperation move to attract players, but the numbers tell a different story. The game's concurrent player count hasn't budged, and online chatter is nearly nonexistent.
Deconstructing the Impact: Who Benefits?
No one, really. The existing MindsEye player base didn't ask for a grenade launcher sports mode, and the move alienates the core audience that came for a narrative-driven experience. The mode itself is chaotic and unpolished, and the lack of marketing means most players don't even know it exists. The 12-player spike is a grim indicator: the mode isn't just ignored, it's invisible.
The Broader Trend: Desperate Pivots in a Tough Market
Build a Rocket Boy's gamble is a symptom of a wider industry pressure. Studios that failed to launch big are often forced to pivot to multiplayer or live-service models, hoping to capture a piece of the AI arms race for player engagement. But the AI matchmaking and balance needed for a competitive mode aren't cheap, and throwing a grenade launcher into a football field isn't a substitute for thoughtful design. The move is reminiscent of the genre-blending risks seen in 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, but that game had a coherent vision. MindsEye just feels lost.
Skepticism: Could This Work?
There's a slim chance the mode finds a niche audience, especially if Build a Rocket Boy leans into the absurdity. But the studio's ongoing legal troubles and the game's abysmal player numbers suggest this is a Hail Mary, not a strategic pivot. The community's reaction is a clear signal: “put the fries in the bag” is shorthand for “this is a joke, not a game.”
What Comes Next
Build a Rocket Boy needs a miracle, and grenade football isn't it. The studio's future hangs on whether it can salvage MindsEye before the next update—or if this is the final desperate act before shutdown. For now, the game's player count is a graveyard, and the grenade launcher football pitch is a tombstone.
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