"It started with our love of cinema": Poppy Playtime creators share inspiration, development journey, and more

Poppy Playtime recently released Chapter 3, the latest addition to the popular horror/puzzle title. This release brings "a decrepit orphanage" into the mix along with new monsters, upgrades, and plenty of narrative. But for those wondering about what started this all—the inspiration, the development, and the journey behind Poppy Playtime—I have you covered.

I had the good fortune to pick the brains of Zach Belanger (CEO) and Seth Belanger (CCO) of Mob Entertainment regarding their beloved title. We covered quite a few topics in our discussion, including the inspiration behind an abandoned toy factory, the journey from creating animated videos to video games, and the controversial Phase 3.

Zach: Poppy Playtime is an epic horror series spanning several chapters. Your journey begins in an abandoned toy factory. Ten years earlier, the toy factory, Playtime Co. was the most successful toy company in the world.

Almost every child around the world had at least one toy from Playtime Co. And then one day, everyone associated with Playtime Co. mysteriously vanished. Everyone was gone. This is where you, the player, come in.

You are a former employee of Playtime Co. Ten years after the disappearance, you receive an unexpected package in the mail, a VHS tape. The message on the tape compels you to return to the abandoned toy factory to explore the facilities and search for clues about what really happened that fateful day.

As they explore the factory, they'll discover that the toys are now…alive. It’s up to you to survive the environments, puzzles, challenges, and threats set out by the toys to trap you forever.

Seth: We set out to makePoppy Playtime a visually appealing and interactive experience that challenges players at every turn. My