Escape from Playtime still has a full release ahead of it, even after Mob Entertainment cut 16 people from its development team. The Poppy Playtime spin-off is only two weeks into Early Access, with a development plan expected to run for roughly a year.
Mob told Insider Gaming that work is continuing and its plans for version 1.0 are unchanged. The company confirmed the departures on 4 November, saying fewer than half of those leaving were permanent employees.
“We have a number of dedicated employees continuing work on the game and delivering on the roadmap features,” the studio said.
That roadmap covers more than polishing an otherwise finished release. On its Steam page, Mob says the full game is intended to include considerably more content, better performance, improved hardware compatibility and additional story material. Its roughly year-long Early Access target depends on how development progresses with the community.
The studio’s launch announcement outlined additions through the rest of 2026 and into 2027, including new locations, enemies, items and gameplay features. Mob now says it has already adjusted its plans in response to player feedback.
Former lead designer Richard Maddern described the cuts as affecting almost the entire team, including himself, in a LinkedIn post. He praised the work his colleagues had done and asked for help finding new roles. Mob has not explained why it reduced the team.
Released on 21 October, Escape from Playtime trades the main series’ human perspective for that of its Smiling Critters. Players explore an abandoned toy factory, gather supplies and try to avoid the much larger creatures hunting them.
Early Access currently offers eight playable characters, one starter zone and an initial enemy lineup. Mob also plans to raise the price when version 1.0 arrives, once more content has been added. For now, the studio is maintaining its commitment to finish the game with the developers who remain.
