Mob Entertainment lays off 16 on Escape from Playtime team
Mob Entertainment confirmed the layoffs on Discord and told Insider Gaming development of the Poppy Playtime spin-off will continue.
Mob Entertainment has laid off 16 people working on Escape from Playtime, leaving only a small number of full-time employees on the project, the studio told Insider Gaming. The cuts hit nearly the entire team behind the Poppy Playtime spin-off.
Developer Richard Maddern said on LinkedIn on November 5 that almost the whole team had been laid off. Mob Entertainment confirmed the layoffs on its official Discord, where a staff member announced the cuts and said development of the game will continue.
The studio said its plan to release the full version of Escape from Playtime is unchanged, and that supporting the people affected is its top priority.
Escape from Playtime launched in early access on PC via Steam on October 22, 2026, roughly two weeks before the layoffs were made public. The early access period was planned to last one year, with added content and releases on other platforms to follow.
At the time of writing, Steam user reviews stand at about 2,400 reviews with 75% positive, a "Mostly Positive" rating. In the spin-off, players control Smiling Critters, the plush toys from Poppy Playtime, exploring the abandoned Playtime factory.
Quick answers
How many people were laid off at Mob Entertainment?
Mob Entertainment told Insider Gaming that 16 people were laid off, and that only a small number of full-time employees remain on the project.
Is Escape from Playtime still in development?
Yes. Mob Entertainment said on its official Discord that development will continue and that the plan to release the full version is unchanged.
When did Escape from Playtime launch in early access?
The game launched in early access on PC via Steam on October 22, 2026.