Leslie Benzies declined to explain his departure from Rockstar in a 2017 interview, saying litigation was pending. He did discuss what inspired his next project: a world where reality and simulation were increasingly hard to separate, and a game broad enough to let players choose their own styles, identities and adventures. Those were early ambitions, not a description of a finished game.
What Benzies would—and would not—say about leaving Rockstar
In a January 2017 interview with GamesBeat, former Rockstar North president Leslie Benzies was asked why he left the studio. He answered: “As you know, litigation is pending and I cannot really talk about it. I’m looking forward to it being resolved.” The interview’s context describes a dispute with Sam Houser after Grand Theft Auto V shipped in 2013, but Benzies did not offer a detailed account of his departure in that exchange.
The creative spark: a world where reality and simulation blur
Benzies described his inspiration as the world around him: “What’s inspiring me most is our world. I’m constantly seeing things and thinking, oh, this has to be in our game. The lines between reality and simulation are becoming blurry and blurring them more inspires us.”
That idea pointed toward more than reproducing real places or adding realistic details. Benzies imagined a game that used familiar mechanics but offered “something more”: a large variety of modes and styles, with room for players to inhabit different identities and pursue different adventures. In the 2017 interview, these were aspirations for Everywhere, not evidence of a settled feature list or completed design.
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- Brand New Game Console: This handheld video games built-in 230 newly designed educational puzzle and leisure, racing, fighting, adventure games without repetition. Also comes with 3 game cartridges, each with a separate classic game. Have fun playing the game console while they work on important developmental skills such as hand-eye coordination, thinking and problem-solving skills
- Larger and Clearer Screen: 3 inch high definition display and substantially more stable, no longer prone to black screen. To ensure the portability and the comfort of playing the game. Our gameboy is not too bulky or too small, perfectly tailored for children. Warm tip: Please tear off the protective film before use
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The design challenge: freedom without an empty world
Matthew Smith, Benzies’s partner and a former Rockstar North developer, described the balancing act behind that ambition. Players needed to feel they were shaping the world, while the experience still had enough structure to keep them entertained. Too much scripting could limit that sense of authorship; openness without engaging direction could leave players with little reason to continue.
Smith named the original Elite and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time as early influences. He also said his perspective on realistic open worlds had been shaped by later work on Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption. Those influences were Smith’s, rather than claims Benzies made about his own inspirations.
Rank #2
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- 3.0 Inch HD Kids-Friendly Screen：This handheld video games console delivers vibrant visuals and immersive audio.Child gamers can enjoy stunning high-definition display with vivid colors and sharp details on its 3.0-inch HD screen, while the excellent speaker sound enhances every gameplay moment
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How the public idea of Everywhere changed
2017: a varied game built around player choice
The original interview presented Everywhere as a game with traditional mechanics alongside a much broader range of modes and play styles. The central design tension was how to offer freedom and personal expression while keeping the experience engaging.
2022: a multi-world experience
In August 2022, Build A Rocket Boy’s teaser announcement described EVERYWHERE as a “multi-world game experience” blending gameplay, adventure, creativity and discovery, as summarized by Gematsu. The announcement gave a 2023 release window, which was a plan at the time—not confirmation that the game launched then—and did not announce platforms. Game director and studio chairman Leslie Benzies described the team’s vision in promotional, player-first terms.
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Rank #3
- ★220 Built-in Retro Games: Fun & Safe!★Dive into a world of classic arcade fun with 220 preloaded games. From puzzles and action to sports and logic, our handheld console offers endless entertainment without ads, or downloads. It's the perfect offline gaming solution for kids, providing peace of mind for parents.
- ★HD Eye-Care Screen with Adjustable Brightness★Our 3.5'' IPS screen is designed to be gentle on young eyes, delivering vibrant visuals that are crisp and clear. With three adjustable brightness levels, your child can play comfortably in any environment—from sunny cars to dim waiting rooms. Enjoy safe, stress-free gaming anytime, anywhere.
- ★Kid-Friendly Design & On-the-Go Fun★Compact and lightweight, this portable console is a perfect travel toy that fits easily in backpacks and pockets. The unique built-in kickstand allows for hands-free play on any surface, encouraging better posture and helping to prevent neck strain. It’s the ultimate entertainment solution for car trips, flights, and family vacations.
- ★Private Gaming, Public Courtesy★Easily control the volume with the convenient volume knob. For public spaces like cars, waiting rooms, or outdoors, just plug in headphones to give your child a personal gaming space without disturbing others. Our exclusive one-key mute function instantly silences all game sounds, making it perfect for quiet environments like libraries or clinics. This feature helps kids learn to be considerate while enjoying their favorite games.
- ★The Perfect Gift Kids Love & Parents Trust★Looking for a fantastic gift for a birthday or holiday? Our rechargeable console with a vibrant, kid-approved design is a sure hit. With a powerful 1800mAh battery providing 6+ hours of playtime, it's a gift that delivers hours of joy. It’s a gift that’s both fun for children and a smart, trusted choice for parents.
2024–2025: creation tools connected to MindsEye
In October 2024, Game Developer reported that IO Interactive would publish MindsEye and that Build A Rocket Boy had described the game as a proof of concept for Everywhere. The report said both projects were being made on Unreal Engine 5 and that Everywhere remained in development at that time; those details describe the projects as reported in 2024.
In May 2025, Build A Rocket Boy told VGC that Arcadia, originally envisioned as Everywhere’s creation platform, had evolved into Build.MindsEye and Play.MindsEye. The studio said beta tests with the Everywhere community had helped test the system.
Rank #4
- ★220 Built-in Retro Games: Fun & Safe!★Dive into a world of classic arcade fun with 220 preloaded games. From puzzles and action to sports and logic, our handheld console offers endless entertainment without WiFi, ads, or downloads. It's the perfect offline gaming solution for kids, providing peace of mind for parents.
- ★HD Eye-Care Screen with Adjustable Brightness★Our 3.5'' IPS screen is designed to be gentle on young eyes, delivering vibrant visuals that are crisp and clear. With three adjustable brightness levels, your child can play comfortably in any environment—from sunny cars to dim waiting rooms. Enjoy safe, stress-free gaming anytime, anywhere.
- ★Kid-Friendly Design & On-the-Go Fun★Compact and lightweight, this portable console is a perfect travel toy that fits easily in backpacks and pockets. The unique built-in kickstand allows for hands-free play on any surface, encouraging better posture and helping to prevent neck strain. It’s the ultimate entertainment solution for car trips, flights, and family vacations.
- ★Private Gaming, Public Courtesy★Easily control the volume with the convenient volume knob. For public spaces like cars, waiting rooms, or outdoors, just plug in headphones to give your child a personal gaming space without disturbing others. Our exclusive one-key mute function instantly silences all game sounds, making it perfect for quiet environments like libraries or clinics. This feature helps kids learn to be considerate while enjoying their favorite games.
- ★The Perfect Gift Kids Love & Parents Trust★Looking for a fantastic gift for a birthday or holiday? Our rechargeable console with a vibrant, kid-approved design is a sure hit. With a powerful 1800mAh battery providing 6+ hours of playtime, it's a gift that delivers hours of joy. It’s a gift that’s both fun for children and a smart, trusted choice for parents.
In a June 2, 2025 update, the studio told VGC: “Everywhere will be coming back and is not abandoned, we’re temporarily taking it dark as we focus on launching MindsEye and upgrading Everywhere’s codebase to align with MindsEye’s.” It said the alignment was intended to enable future interoperability and streamline development while preserving work from the Builders Beta.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is known about Everywhere’s status
The latest located explicit studio statement, reported by VGC on June 2, 2025, said Everywhere was temporarily being taken dark, not abandoned. That statement described the studio’s position at the time; it does not establish whether Everywhere has since returned, launched or been cancelled. No later definitive status update is established here.
Quick Recap
Best Value
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