Media Molecule reportedly working on a social sim for 2027

The reported title is said to be a social-simulation game, drawing comparisons to Animal Crossing and Harvest Moon. The same reporting also mentions an open-world angle, though that detail also comes from reports rather than an official reveal.

2027 is mentioned in the reports as a possible year for both announcement and release. That is framed conditionally: it would only happen if development stays on track.

What happened

IGN reported, based on a MP1st report, that Media Molecule is working on a new project that has not been officially announced. The studio behind LittleBigPlanet and Dreams has not confirmed the information itself. In the reporting, the project is described as a social sim, with Animal Crossing and Harvest Moon used as comparison points. That description comes from the reports, not from an official reveal by Media Molecule or Sony.

IGN also says the project may be open-world. That detail is said to trace back to an earlier reference to a studio employee, but it has not been officially confirmed either. In the provided context, the project is also described as possibly offline-friendly, though that remains an interpretation of the reported information rather than a confirmed feature list.

Game Rant adds that, according to the leak, the project would not be a games-as-a-service title and would include social elements. The source also says the game may have more multiplayer than Animal Crossing: New Horizons. In the same vein, the reports frame the project as one that does not fully revolve around live-service structures, but that too remains unconfirmed for now.

The timing is also not official. The reporting mentions 2027 as a possible year for announcement and release, but only on the condition that development proceeds as planned. Game Rant and other secondary coverage repeat that this is a rumor, not an announcement from Sony or Media Molecule.

Background

Media Molecule is best known for LittleBigPlanet and Dreams. Dreams released in 2020 and is treated in the provided context as the studio’s latest released title. Since then, there has been no official announcement about the next project beyond confirmation that the studio is working on a new game. That earlier confirmation only establishes the existence of a new project, not its genre, setting, or release window.

The current reporting fills that gap with rumors about a social-simulation game. Animal Crossing and Harvest Moon are used as reference points, which mainly suggests the likely tone and structure of the project. The reports also mention an open-world approach and social elements, but concrete details about the title, gameplay loop, online features, and platform support are still missing.

The mentioned 2027 timing also remains a rumor. In the provided sources, that date is tied to a possible announcement and release, but always with the caveat that it would only happen if development stays on track. That makes the date a reported target for now, not a confirmed plan.

The comparison to Animal Crossing and Harvest Moon comes from the reports and should therefore be read as an indication, not a confirmed design choice. The same caution applies to the claim that the project would not be a games-as-a-service title. Until Media Molecule or Sony shares something directly, the title, genre details, and release date remain unconfirmed.

Sources

• IGN: LittleBigPlanet Developer Reportedly Working On Animal Crossing-Like Game For 2027 Release
• Game Rant: PlayStation Animal Crossing-Like Games Media Molecule
• MP1st, as cited in the reporting