- Experiment 82626 is the working title for Mob Entertainment's next multiplayer co-op game set in the Poppy Playtime universe
- August 26, 2026 is the speculated official reveal date based on the teaser number
- Proximity chat and Poppy Playtime canon are confirmed core features for the game
- Smiling Critters appear to play a major role based on blurred elevator silhouettes
- Project: Playtime is being sunset to make way for this new multiplayer experience
Experiment 82626: First Teasers and Steam Page Revealed
Mob Entertainment has officially launched the Steam page for their next multiplayer game, currently operating under the cryptic title Experiment 82626. The teaser campaign began with an 11-second short video titled "Where is Our New Home?" featuring the Berry Cart traveling along a dark tunnel track. While the video itself remains intentionally cryptic, the Steam page offers a much deeper look into what players can expect from this new co-op experience.
Video Highlights:
- First look at the Steam page banner featuring a VHS tape labeled 82626
- Multiple environment screenshots from early development builds
- Blurred Smiling Critters silhouettes hidden in an elevator image
- Confirmation of proximity chat, co-op multiplayer, and Poppy Playtime canon
- Binary codes and hidden numbers teased in the elevator screenshot
The teaser number itself has sparked significant community discussion. Rather than being a standard experiment designation from the Playtime Co. lore, the number 82626 strongly translates to a date: August 26, 2026. This aligns with the timeline of a major official reveal or title drop event that Mob Entertainment is building toward.
The official Steam description reads: "You must earn your place in our future home..." followed by key feature tags: Multiplayer Co-op, Poppy Playtime Canon, and Proximity Chat. This marks a significant upgrade over Project: Playtime's communication system.
Environment Breakdown: Factory Locations and Map Details
The Steam page screenshots reveal several distinct environments that appear to draw from various chapters of the main Poppy Playtime series. Each area offers clues about the gameplay direction and setting for the multiplayer experience.
| Location | Visual Description | Likely Inspiration |
|---|---|---|
| Abandoned Factory Area | Dark corridors with industrial debris | Chapter 1 Game Station |
| Lunch Food Quarter | Cafeteria-style layout with sealed doors | Playtime Co. facilities |
| TV Room | Banks of televisions with Berry Cart visible | Chapter 4 aesthetic |
| Cave Systems | Old piping, levers, rock formations | Chapters 3-4 hybrid |
| Elevator Room | Four blurred characters, binary codes | New lore location |
The TV room area is particularly notable because the Berry Cart appears prominently, suggesting it may serve as a spawn point or drop-off mechanism when players load into a map. The cave-like systems show extensive old piping and lever mechanics, indicating that environmental puzzles will likely remain a core gameplay element.
All screenshots appear to be from early development builds. The final game may look significantly different upon release. Mob Entertainment has not yet announced an official launch window beyond the August 26 teaser date.
Smiling Critters: Character Teasers and Theories
The most lore-heavy teaser image from the Steam page shows an elevator containing four blurred characters. When brightened, the silhouettes reveal distinct features resembling Smiling Critters, specifically shapes similar to Bobby Bearhug with visible ears and body proportions.
Hidden Codes and Binary Messages
Along the side of the elevator image, a string of numbers is visible. When the image brightness is increased, additional numbers and codes become legible. This follows Mob Entertainment's established pattern of hiding lore-critical information in teaser images.
Leading theories suggest the blurred characters could be new critters from a cancelled toy line, potentially making the game focused on abandoned or rejected toys in a forgotten section of the Playtime Co. factory.
Possible Gameplay Directions
Extraction Mode
- Similar to Project: Playtime
- Players extract or destroy rejected toys
- Objective-based co-op gameplay
- Competitive monster mechanic
Survival Co-op
- Players survive against critter enemies
- Proximity chat enables coordination
- Canon story integration
- Puzzle-solving elements
Exploration Focus
- Discover abandoned factory areas
- Uncover cancelled toy lore
- Environmental storytelling
- Team-based puzzle solving
The key question remains whether the Smiling Critters will serve as playable characters or as antagonists in the multiplayer format. The blurred nature of the silhouettes leaves room for entirely new designs rather than existing characters.
Project: Playtime Sunset and Transition
Mob Entertainment confirmed that Project: Playtime is being officially sunset to make way for Experiment 82626. This decision came after the developer expressed a desire to rebuild the multiplayer experience from the ground up rather than continue patching the existing game.
| Feature | Project: Playtime | Experiment 82626 |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | Standard voice chat | Proximity chat |
| Canon Status | Spin-off | Poppy Playtime canon |
| Game Mode | Asymmetric extraction | Co-op (details TBD) |
| Development | Live service | Built from scratch |
| Status | Sunsetting | In development |
While Project: Playtime is ending, its core concepts of multiplayer toy extraction and factory exploration are expected to evolve in Experiment 82626. The new game aims to address community feedback that the previous title could not.
Isaac from Mob Entertainment shared his thoughts on the transition, expressing that he wished the team could have remade Project: Playtime from the ground up. The sunset decision was difficult but necessary for delivering a higher-quality multiplayer experience that lives up to the community's expectations.
How to Track Experiment 82626 Updates
Following the official reveal and staying updated on Experiment 82626 requires monitoring multiple channels. Here is a step-by-step approach to catching every teaser and announcement.
Watch the Official Steam Page
Add the Experiment 82626 Steam page to your wishlist. Mob Entertainment is posting new screenshots, description updates, and teaser images directly on the store page as development progresses.
Follow Mob Entertainment Social Channels
Monitor their Twitter/X account and YouTube channel for profile changes and short teaser videos. The Berry Cart profile update preceded the Steam page reveal.
Track Regional Poppy Playtime Accounts
Regional accounts like Poppy Playtime Brazil have posted exclusive teaser images. The August 8th Hour of Joy image contained hidden character reveals for future chapters.
Join Community Discords
Community servers are the fastest way to share and decode hidden teasers, binary codes, and brightened images that reveal new lore details.
Update Tracking Checklist:
- Wishlist the Experiment 82626 Steam page
- Follow Mob Entertainment on Twitter/X and YouTube
- Monitor regional Poppy Playtime accounts for exclusive teasers
- Join community Discord servers for code-breaking collaboration
- Check the Steam page image gallery for new screenshots
Additional Teasers: Hour of Joy and Chapter 6 Hints
Beyond the multiplayer game, Mob Entertainment dropped several other teasers worth noting for Poppy Playtime fans tracking the broader universe.
August 8th Hour of Joy Image
The Poppy Playtime Brazil page posted a low-quality image commemorating August 8, 1995, the date of the Hour of Joy incident at Playtime Co. The image features CatNap praying with the Prototype's eyes visible behind him through smoke. When zoomed in, a character named Preston can be spotted, fueling speculation that Preston will play a significant role in Chapter 6.
The Hour of Joy teaser is believed to be teasing Chapter 6 of the main game, not the Experiment 82626 multiplayer title. Do not conflate the two projects when analyzing teasers.
Merchandise and Collectibles
Several new merchandise drops accompanied the teaser campaign, some containing interesting lore implications:
| Item | Price | Notable Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Huggy Wuggy Statue (1/10 scale) | $300 | Iron Studio collectible, pre-order available |
| Poppy Playtime Camera | $85 | Themed camera from Theoryverse |
| Globy Enamel Pin | Standard pin price | Description says "Don't listen to Globy" |
| Huggy Wuggy Hoodie | Standard apparel price | New Theoryverse collaboration |
| Smiling Critters Plushies | Varies | Japan pop-up shop exclusive |
The Globy pin description reading "Don't listen to Globy" and noting that the pin "does not play cassette tapes" has sparked theories about Globy's potential role in future chapters or the multiplayer game itself.
Experiment 82626 FAQ
Q: What is Experiment 82626?
Experiment 82626 is the working title for Mob Entertainment's upcoming multiplayer co-op game set in the Poppy Playtime universe. It features proximity chat, Poppy Playtime canon integration, and is being built from the ground up as a replacement for Project: Playtime.
Q: When will Experiment 82626 be officially revealed?
Based on the teaser number 82626, the community speculates an official reveal on August 26, 2026. However, Mob Entertainment has not confirmed this date. The Steam page is already live with early development screenshots.
Q: Is Experiment 82626 connected to the main Poppy Playtime story?
Yes. The Steam page explicitly tags the game as Poppy Playtime Canon, meaning events in the multiplayer game will be part of the official storyline. This is a significant upgrade from Project: Playtime, which was considered a spin-off.
Q: Will Smiling Critters be playable in Experiment 82626?
This has not been confirmed. The teaser image shows four blurred Smiling Critters silhouettes in an elevator, but it remains unclear whether they will be playable characters, enemies, or NPCs. The blurred nature suggests they may be new designs from a cancelled toy line.
Q: What happened to Project: Playtime?
Project: Playtime is being officially sunset. Mob Entertainment expressed a desire to rebuild the multiplayer experience from scratch rather than continue updating the existing game. Experiment 82626 is the successor project incorporating lessons learned from Project: Playtime's development.