Former Rockstar Exec Brings GTA-Level Polish to MindsEye

It's always interesting to see the first projects that former company executives and studio heads will release after they first branch out, so you can only imagine just how curious Grand Theft Auto fans are about Leslie Benzies' upcoming game, MindsEye. For those out of the loop, Benzies was instrumental for the meteoric rise of the GTA franchise - but he left Rockstar Games some years ago and the split wasn't quite amicable. Now, we'll have a chance to see what he's been up to.

Set to launch on June 10, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X and PC, this cinematic action-adventure promises to deliver a thrilling narrative experience in a futuristic desert metropolis. Unike what most initially feared, it isn't a live-service crypto-backed title, although it's still associated with Everywhere, Benzies' other ambitious project with Build a Rocket Boy.

The latest story trailer offers a glimpse into the game's world, showcasing sleek vehicles racing through crowded streets, high-tech law enforcement robots patrolling the city, and explosive action sequences that hint at the dangers lurking beneath Redrock's glossy exterior. The trailer's cinematic quality and attention to detail are reminiscent of Benzies' past work with Rockstar North, suggesting that MindsEye will deliver the same level of polish and spectacle that fans have come to expect from his projects.

Benzies couldn't even stop himself from referencing a fan-favorite title in MindsEye's debut trailer. As pointed out by @minefa5 on X, there's one particular sequence in the trailer that shows a shot of a red car on the left and a white car on the right. It's the same exact colors and positions as the cover of Midnight Club 3: Dub Edition, a Rockstar Games title that came out all the way back in 2005. Interestingly enough, a similar reference is made in Grand Theft Auto V when we first meet Franklin Clinton and Lamar Davis.

MindsEye's upcoming release comes at an interesting time, potentially putting it within the crosshairs of Grand Theft Auto 6. While it's nowhere near the Fall 2025 release window of the sixthquel, Take-Two Interactive is expected to ramp up marketing efforts between now and December. Although Benzies will forever be associated with Rockstar and GTA , MindsEye runs the risk of being swalloed by the hype, on top of the unfair comparisons it's going to have with the GTA franchise.

With gamers starved for single-player, story-driven experiences these days, who knows? Build a Rocket Boy's debut title could very well prove that Benzies still has it in him. We'll find out more on June 10 if Benzies' first post- GTA title is worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as his previous projects.

As for Midnight Club, the franchise hasn't had a new release since 2009. The games also haven't been ported to a modern platform. Fingers crossed, all these references will remind Rockstar that they once made a racing sim that deserves to be played by modern audiences even if only as a mobile port and as part of its GTA+ subscription service.