Media Molecule’s next game is reportedly targeting both a reveal and release in 2027, with new details pointing to a social-simulation project inspired by Animal Crossing and Harvest Moon. MP1st says it has learned that the unannounced PlayStation Studios title is currently planned for next year, although Sony and Media Molecule have not announced a date or formally revealed the game. Until that happens, the 2027 timing and gameplay details should be treated as unconfirmed reporting rather than a finalized launch plan.
According to MP1st, the project is being designed as a social-simulation game, with Animal Crossing and Harvest Moon cited as major points of comparison. That would represent a notable shift for the British studio, which is best known for LittleBigPlanet, Tearaway and Dreams, while still fitting its long-standing emphasis on playful spaces and player expression. The report does not establish that the game directly copies either series, only that those titles are being used to describe its general direction.
The new information also lines up with clues that surfaced earlier this year about the project’s structure. In May, MP1st reported that an online portfolio from a Media Molecule developer referenced work on a new IP containing “open-world content,” including main points of interest, moment-to-moment gameplay and forage design. Those details suggested a broader explorable environment with gathering or resource-based systems, although neither Media Molecule nor Sony confirmed what those mechanics would ultimately become.
A social-simulation framework would provide a plausible context for those earlier references. Games such as Animal Crossing and Harvest Moon typically combine open or semi-open environments with gathering, relationship-building, routine activities and long-term progression, though MP1st has not confirmed exactly which of those systems Media Molecule is using. The reported “forage design” work therefore fits the new description without proving any specific farming, crafting or survival mechanic.
The project has been known to exist in some form for several years. Former Media Molecule co-founder and creative director Mark Healey said in 2024 that the studio was developing a new IP and described it as “more of a game than a creative tool.” Healey had already left the company by that point and cautioned that he did not know the exact state of development, but his comments suggested the studio was moving away from making another creation platform as broad as Dreams.
That distinction matters because Dreams became Media Molecule’s defining project during much of the previous generation. Released in 2020, it allowed players to create games, animation, music and other interactive experiences using an extensive suite of tools. Media Molecule ended live support in 2023 as it shifted resources toward its next project, while Dreams itself remained available as a self-contained platform.
The studio subsequently went through staff reductions during a broader period of restructuring across PlayStation Studios. Despite that, Media Molecule has continued hiring and developing the new IP, while its official website still describes the studio’s goal as creating entertainment that encourages player expression and positive communities. Those themes could naturally overlap with a social-simulation game even if the project is considerably more conventional than Dreams.
MP1st’s latest report is also the first strong indication of when Sony might finally show the title. If the current target holds, Media Molecule could reveal the game and launch it during the same calendar year in 2027. No platform has been officially confirmed, although Media Molecule remains part of PlayStation Studios, making PlayStation hardware the expected primary destination unless Sony announces otherwise.
There are still major unknowns surrounding the project, including its name, visual style, multiplayer structure, monetization model and whether user-created content will remain part of Media Molecule’s design philosophy. MP1st’s report does not confirm whether the game will include online social features comparable to LittleBigPlanet or Dreams, nor does it establish whether the reported open world is continuous or divided into smaller areas.
For now, the clearest picture is that Media Molecule is reportedly building a new IP centered on social-simulation gameplay, with Animal Crossing and Harvest Moon serving as broad inspirations and a 2027 reveal and release currently targeted. Sony has not confirmed those details, so development plans could still change before the project is formally announced.
