Media Molecule's Next Game Leak Suggests a New Open-World IP is in Full Production

You're now getting a fresh update on Media Molecule, a studio you probably haven't heard much about in a while, but one that's suddenly back in the conversation thanks to new leaks about its next project. The report, which cites MP First, suggests that Media Molecule is working on something very different from what you might associate with the studio's past work. Instead of another creation-focused platform like Dreams, the next Media Molecule game is expected to lean more into a traditional adventure-style experience.

That alone already marks a pretty noticeable shift for Media Molecule, especially considering Dreams was built around giving you tools to create almost anything you could imagine. But according to the information that has surfaced, they might have left that era behind for now.

What's sparked all of this change is some job-related information that MP First reportedly found. 

A senior environment designer's resume includes details that hint at what Media Molecule is building next. In that description, there's mention of being the "main contact/vision holder for various open-world content," which strongly suggests the project could feature open-world design elements.

You're also looking at references to responsibilities like blocking out main points of interest, which is usually tied to how open-world maps are structured and guided. On top of that, the resume mentions the work being part of an unannounced project and a completely new IP, meaning this isn't tied to anything Media Molecule has released before.

So when you put that together, you're getting a picture of Media Molecule stepping into unfamiliar territory. Instead of a tools-driven sandbox, the project sounds more like a structured game world built around exploration and designed content.

There's also been an update that adds a bit more context to the timeline. 

The same report notes that the developer in question joined Media Molecule only in April 2025, and the wording on the resume suggests the project was in pre-production when they arrived. Since that phase is now mentioned in the past tense, it implies the game may have recently moved into full production.

And that detail matters, because once a game hits full production, you're usually looking at a long development cycle. In most cases, that can take anywhere from two to four years, depending on the scope. With Media Molecule, though, expectations are a bit more grounded. The assumption is that this won't be a massive, industry-shaking release, but instead something more focused in scale.

Because of that, there's a reasonable chance you won't see this Media Molecule project until fairly deep into the next console generation, possibly even around the early phase of the PlayStation 6 era, depending on how development goes.

At the same time, there's still a lot you don't know about what Media Molecule is actually building. 

The report doesn't confirm whether this is multiplayer, co-op, or even leaning toward live-service design. All that's clear right now is that it's a new IP, and it's moving forward in production with open-world elements in the mix. There's even a small detail from job postings that's added more speculation into the mix. MP First also highlighted a reference to "foraging," which could hint that survival-style mechanics are part of the experience. That said, it's still very unclear, and it could just be a small system rather than a core gameplay loop.

For you, the bigger picture here is that Media Molecule seems to be stepping away from the identity that defined it for years. After Dreams, which focused heavily on user-generated content and creative tools, the studio looks to be shifting toward something more traditionally structured.

Dreams itself is still a major talking point in this conversation.

It had a lot of potential and, in many ways, it was ahead of its time. You saw how popular user-generated content games became across the industry, and Dreams was essentially built around that idea from the start. It gave you tools that could have supported one of the most flexible creative platforms in gaming.

But despite that, it didn't fully land in the way many expected. A lot of that comes down to how it was handled after launch. There's a strong argument that Sony didn't really know how to position it for the long term, and Media Molecule also struggled to expand its reach. The lack of a proper push to other platforms like PC is often pointed to as a missed opportunity that limited its growth.

Now, with Media Molecule moving on, you're looking at a studio trying to reset its direction. A traditional adventure game with open-world elements and a new IP suggests a clean break from its previous identity, even if some creative DNA might remain.

There's still uncertainty around the tone of the game itself. 

It could end up being co-op-focused, it could lean into multiplayer, or it could even experiment with a live-service structure in some form. Nothing has been confirmed, so right now it's all based on what's been pieced together from job listings and resumes.

What you can take away from all of this is that Media Molecule is actively building something new, and it's no longer in early conceptual stages. It's in full production, which means development is properly underway. At the same time, there's some concern about the studio's future direction. After Dreams, there's been a sense that Media Molecule needed a stronger follow-up to stay consistent in Sony's lineup. This project could be the opportunity to re-establish itself, especially if it lands well.

For now, though, everything remains confidential. You only know fragments, but those fragments point toward a new IP, open-world design, and a noticeable shift away from the studio's past focus on creation tools. Media Molecule is clearly trying something different this time, and it's still early enough in development that a lot could change before you ever see it in action.