The recently released 62-page file of part of the Epstein files is an alleged witness list that Sarah Ransome had been compiling. One of the new names that popped up on the alleged list was someone from the video game industry, Build a Rocket Boy Co-Founder, former Rockstar Games President, and longtime GTA Producer, Leslie Benzies. The file includes allegations of sexual assault allegedly against Benzies. He has released a statement denying the allegations.
“These allegations are false, I had a 3 months consensual relationship with this person, and I have never met Jeffrey Epstein, nor have I ever visited his island, his properties or travelled on his plane. Any suggestion otherwise is misleading,” the statement reads.
Sarah Ransome, who previously sued Jeffrey Epstein and his longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell for alleged sex trafficking, accuses Benzies of allegedly sexually assaulting her at one point. Ransome also mentions Current Rockstar Games President Sam Houser in the files but not in connection with any allegation. There is no evidence that any of the claims in Ransome’s document were vetted by federal investigators.
Last year, Build a Rocket Boy released MindsEye. The third-person shooter did not have the launch the devs were hoping for as the game was critically panned. PlayStation even offered its customers refunds, something rare for the company, following MindsEye’s buggy launch.
Build a Rocket Boy also faced backlash from current and former employees who alleged that there was systemic mistreatment of the employees during MindsEye’s development.
Build a Rocket Boy’s Co-CEO Mark Gerhard recently accused YouTuber Cyber Boi of being part of an effort to sabotage the studio following the release of several videos about the game. Gerhard allegedly threatened legal action against Cyber Boi, minutes after the latter published a YouTube video about Benzies appearing in the Epstein files. The video has since been deleted as a result of the threat of litigation.
Build a Rocket Boy confirmed that Benzies is still employed at the studio as they continue to update MindsEye and continue work on its metaverse project Everywhere.