Update October 24th, 11:26AM: Media Molecule has confirmed that it's laying off some of its staff.
In a message posted on the studio's official X account, Media Molecule says it has made "the difficult decision to begin the consultation process" for staffers "within certain departments of the studio".
Media Molecule doesn't state which departments are most affected, nor does it clarify exactly how many staff members will be let go.
The studio does, however, pledge to "make sure those impacted receive the best support" possible. Original story follows below.
Original story: It seems the current wave of industry layoffs isn't going to stop anytime soon, at least according to a new report. This time, it's the turn of Dreams and LittleBigPlanet developer Media Molecule.
The report comes via Sports Illustrated's gaming section and states that Media Molecule is planning to lay off around 20 of its employees.
This would reduce the "roughly 135-strong workforce" to around 115 staffers, according to SI, which cites an "internal meeting" held today as its source.
SI doesn't go into specifics; we don't know which employees' jobs are allegedly threatened, nor which departments are being affected by the layoffs, assuming the report is true (and it's worth noting that Media Molecule has not officially confirmed or announced these layoffs).
However, if SI's report is correct, Media Molecule would be the latest in a string of studios letting employees go in recent months.
Other studios hit by layoffs include Jurassic World Evolution 2 developer Frontier, as well as adventure game studio Telltale (although that developer's projects are all still in the works).
Layoffs have also affected companies like Embracer Group, Team17, and Epic Games in recent weeks, so Media Molecule is far from alone.
Media Molecule is perhaps best known for developing whimsical platformer LittleBigPlanet, which focused heavily on user-generated content.
The studio's other games include Tearaway (and its PlayStation 4 remake Tearaway Unfolded), as well as PS4 creative sandbox Dreams.
Earlier this year, Media Molecule ended live development for Dreams, choosing instead to focus on maintenance and bug fixes. In addition, studio co-founder Mark Healey departed the company in April after seventeen years.
Media Molecule is currently working on an "exciting new project", about which very little is known right now.
Hopefully, we'll hear more about what the studio is planning in the coming weeks and months. Until then, though, stay tuned for more info on all things relating to Media Molecule, as well as the wider gaming industry.
