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One of the picture frames seen in Chapter 3's Home Sweet Home area contains the phrase "A clap and a half to you. We'll miss you." This is a reference to a catchphrase used by YouTuber Matthew "MatPat" Patrick, the host of the webseries "Game Theory", who had announced that he would be retiring from making YouTube content a few days before the chapter was released.
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When the Smiling Critters, an in-universe toy line heavily featured in Chapter 3, was first revealed on Mob Entertainment's Twitter account, the image posted featured the full line-up of characters. However, an hour after posting this, a second version of the line-up was posted, this one removing the character CatNap. The reason for this would be revealed in a video titled "CatNap Recall", which was first discovered through an elaborate ARG held by the developers to tease Chapter 3, and also serves as the intro for Chapter 3. The video depicts a news report centered around the Smiling Critters, which reveals that CatNap was removed from the toy line after parents began to report that their children had experienced violent nightmares after inhaling the scent the toy emitted.
Initial reveal:
https://twitter.com/mobgamesstudios/status/1720456667169464403
Second reveal:
https://twitter.com/mobgamesstudios/status/1720471950290493808
CatNap Recall:
https://youtu.be/CDBgK5JIsF8
Fandom wiki article on CatNap ARG:
https://poppy-playtime.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3_Interactable_ARG
https://twitter.com/mobgamesstudios/status/1720456667169464403
Second reveal:
https://twitter.com/mobgamesstudios/status/1720471950290493808
CatNap Recall:
https://youtu.be/CDBgK5JIsF8
Fandom wiki article on CatNap ARG:
https://poppy-playtime.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3_Interactable_ARG
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In November 2022, the sale of Huggy Wuggy plush toys was banned and all stocks recalled by the Turkish Ministry of Trade, who stated that the toys "do not meet the requirements of the Toy Safety Regulation." The Ministry of Family and Social Services also determined that the toys "had a negative effect on the psychosocial development of children."
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Both sources are in Spanish and have been machine-translated to English by the User:
Uruguay incident:
https://www.elobservador.com.uy/nota/poppy-playtime-primaria-llama-a-estar-alerta-ante-aumento-de-casos-de-cortes-en-ninos-2022915164831
Translation: "The general director of Primary, Graciela Fabeyro, called on the population to be “alert” about the manifestation of the children, or their behavior, after El Observador reported this Thursday that two schoolchildren were hospitalized for playing a game that incites them. to self-harm, based on the video game Poppy Playyime and her character Huggy Wuggy.
“The most serious cases were two,” Fabeyro acknowledged, but there were seven who did this practice.
He reported that games or attempts to attack or self-harm occur “more frequently than they did before the pandemic.” And he added: “The pandemic has also installed some mental health issues.” Primary contacted the Ministry of Public Health about these cases, with the aim of promoting actions aimed at children.
“Some situations are occurring in childhood,” said the leader, although she preferred not to give more details, when consulted by the press this Thursday. “We still have no explanations. This is multi-causal. “We are more alert, the situation is known and reported more,” she indicated.
Fabeyro asked the population to pay attention to the behavior of the schoolchildren. “I repeat, (we must) all be alert, because sometimes we don't realize it. We think that they are games, or that children feel uncomfortable when they say: I don't like that thing, I don't want to live or I have some difficulty. One sometimes takes it as game situations. (You have to) be alert because it is occurring in greater quantities. We receive different situations, not only in Montevideo and the metropolitan area, but in other places in the country,” he expressed."
Pablo Abdala's response:
https://www.elobservador.com.uy/nota/presidente-de-inau-preocupado-por-episodio-sobre-huggy-wuggy-confirma-que-el-desarrollo-tecnologico-entrana-un-riesgo-muy-severo--202291685022
Translation: "The president of the Institute for Children and Adolescents of Uruguay (INAU), Pablo Abdala, expressed his concern about the video game Poppy Playtime and the main character, Huggy Wuggy. This horror video game caused seven Uruguayan children to self-harm, and two of them even ended up hospitalized.
“We live in a more violent society, particularly in relation to the youngest and I think that this episode, which surprises and impacts us all greatly, should help us reflect,” said the leader.
In this sense, he emphasized that we must “extreme efforts to care for our children” and “prevent them from falling into the networks of this type of complex practices, which someone irresponsibly encourages or implements,” according to Telenoche.
In his opinion, this episode "is confirmation" that technological development, social networks and increasingly early access by children to different devices "in itself is an advance of modernity, but at the same time entails a very severe risk."
However, Poppy Playtime is not the first game of its kind. In Uruguay there have already been cases of recreational activities that end with children in critical situations.
Such is the case of Ballena Azul: the challenge established 50 challenges to be completed in 50 days and caused fear around the world, since the last task is for the user to commit suicide.
In Uruguay, psychologists warned parents so that they could build trust with their children in order to prevent them from participating in this game.
The situation forced the Ministry of Public Health (MSP) to issue recommendations and register cases of adolescents hospitalized in five departments. At one point, it required the attention of four ministries —Defense, Education, Interior and Health—and the Minister of the Interior at the time, Eduardo Bonomi, even referred a case to Interpol.
On the other hand, the second game that raised alarms was Momo. This viral challenge involved writing to an unknown number through WhatsApp, which eventually “responded with violent and aggressive images” and even with “threats and revealing personal information,” according to the Computer Crime Investigation Unit of the Prosecutor's Office. General of the State of Tabasco, in Mexico (UIDI).
While the latter did not cause as much of a stir as its predecessor, cases were recorded in Brazil, Colombia and Mexico, for example. Like the Blue Whale, it spread quickly through the internet and social networks."
Uruguay incident:
https://www.elobservador.com.uy/nota/poppy-playtime-primaria-llama-a-estar-alerta-ante-aumento-de-casos-de-cortes-en-ninos-2022915164831
Translation: "The general director of Primary, Graciela Fabeyro, called on the population to be “alert” about the manifestation of the children, or their behavior, after El Observador reported this Thursday that two schoolchildren were hospitalized for playing a game that incites them. to self-harm, based on the video game Poppy Playyime and her character Huggy Wuggy.
“The most serious cases were two,” Fabeyro acknowledged, but there were seven who did this practice.
He reported that games or attempts to attack or self-harm occur “more frequently than they did before the pandemic.” And he added: “The pandemic has also installed some mental health issues.” Primary contacted the Ministry of Public Health about these cases, with the aim of promoting actions aimed at children.
“Some situations are occurring in childhood,” said the leader, although she preferred not to give more details, when consulted by the press this Thursday. “We still have no explanations. This is multi-causal. “We are more alert, the situation is known and reported more,” she indicated.
Fabeyro asked the population to pay attention to the behavior of the schoolchildren. “I repeat, (we must) all be alert, because sometimes we don't realize it. We think that they are games, or that children feel uncomfortable when they say: I don't like that thing, I don't want to live or I have some difficulty. One sometimes takes it as game situations. (You have to) be alert because it is occurring in greater quantities. We receive different situations, not only in Montevideo and the metropolitan area, but in other places in the country,” he expressed."
Pablo Abdala's response:
https://www.elobservador.com.uy/nota/presidente-de-inau-preocupado-por-episodio-sobre-huggy-wuggy-confirma-que-el-desarrollo-tecnologico-entrana-un-riesgo-muy-severo--202291685022
Translation: "The president of the Institute for Children and Adolescents of Uruguay (INAU), Pablo Abdala, expressed his concern about the video game Poppy Playtime and the main character, Huggy Wuggy. This horror video game caused seven Uruguayan children to self-harm, and two of them even ended up hospitalized.
“We live in a more violent society, particularly in relation to the youngest and I think that this episode, which surprises and impacts us all greatly, should help us reflect,” said the leader.
In this sense, he emphasized that we must “extreme efforts to care for our children” and “prevent them from falling into the networks of this type of complex practices, which someone irresponsibly encourages or implements,” according to Telenoche.
In his opinion, this episode "is confirmation" that technological development, social networks and increasingly early access by children to different devices "in itself is an advance of modernity, but at the same time entails a very severe risk."
However, Poppy Playtime is not the first game of its kind. In Uruguay there have already been cases of recreational activities that end with children in critical situations.
Such is the case of Ballena Azul: the challenge established 50 challenges to be completed in 50 days and caused fear around the world, since the last task is for the user to commit suicide.
In Uruguay, psychologists warned parents so that they could build trust with their children in order to prevent them from participating in this game.
The situation forced the Ministry of Public Health (MSP) to issue recommendations and register cases of adolescents hospitalized in five departments. At one point, it required the attention of four ministries —Defense, Education, Interior and Health—and the Minister of the Interior at the time, Eduardo Bonomi, even referred a case to Interpol.
On the other hand, the second game that raised alarms was Momo. This viral challenge involved writing to an unknown number through WhatsApp, which eventually “responded with violent and aggressive images” and even with “threats and revealing personal information,” according to the Computer Crime Investigation Unit of the Prosecutor's Office. General of the State of Tabasco, in Mexico (UIDI).
While the latter did not cause as much of a stir as its predecessor, cases were recorded in Brazil, Colombia and Mexico, for example. Like the Blue Whale, it spread quickly through the internet and social networks."
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Snopes article:
https://www.snopes.com/news/2022/04/06/huggy-wuggy-police-warning
Police statements:
https://www.dorset.live/news/dorset-news/dorset-police-warning-huggy-wuggy-6895429
https://www.nbc15.com/2022/04/07/huggy-wuggy-inspired-videos-brings-warning-lafayette-co-officials
Filter issues:
https://news.sky.com/story/parents-and-schools-concerned-about-viral-huggy-wuggy-youtube-videos-12579453
https://screenrant.com/poppy-playtime-huggy-wuggy-police-warnings
Child responses:
https://planetradio.co.uk/wave-105/local/news/dorset-police-issue-warning-to-parents-about-huggy-wuggy-video-game
https://www.wearegreenbay.com/news/local-news/who-is-huggy-wuggy-why-is-kewaunee-co-school-district-worried
Additional sources:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-13/huggy-wuggy-poppy-playtime-prompts-warning-to-parents/101227428
https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/what-huggy-wuggy-toy-popping-sale-streets-nyc
https://www.snopes.com/news/2022/04/06/huggy-wuggy-police-warning
Police statements:
https://www.dorset.live/news/dorset-news/dorset-police-warning-huggy-wuggy-6895429
https://www.nbc15.com/2022/04/07/huggy-wuggy-inspired-videos-brings-warning-lafayette-co-officials
Filter issues:
https://news.sky.com/story/parents-and-schools-concerned-about-viral-huggy-wuggy-youtube-videos-12579453
https://screenrant.com/poppy-playtime-huggy-wuggy-police-warnings
Child responses:
https://planetradio.co.uk/wave-105/local/news/dorset-police-issue-warning-to-parents-about-huggy-wuggy-video-game
https://www.wearegreenbay.com/news/local-news/who-is-huggy-wuggy-why-is-kewaunee-co-school-district-worried
Additional sources:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-13/huggy-wuggy-poppy-playtime-prompts-warning-to-parents/101227428
https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/what-huggy-wuggy-toy-popping-sale-streets-nyc
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In December 2021, Mob Entertainment announced a series of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) based on the in-game posters. This was quickly met with backlash and negative reviews from the community (with some even requesting refunds), accusing the devs of hiding lore for the game behind a paywall. The announcement post was eventually deleted, but could not remove the NFTs as well due to the contact that had been signed, forcing them to wait until it expired.
On May 3, 2022, Mob Entertainment CEO Zach Belanger revealed in a statement on Twitter that all profits made from the NFTs would be donated to the Clean Air Task Force organization.
On May 3, 2022, Mob Entertainment CEO Zach Belanger revealed in a statement on Twitter that all profits made from the NFTs would be donated to the Clean Air Task Force organization.
Initial controversy:
https://techraptor.net/gaming/news/poppy-playtime-faces-review-backlash-over-addition-of-nfts
https://www.pcgames.de/Spiele-Thema-239104/News/Poppy-Playtimeerhaelt-Welle-an-negativen-Bewertungen-nach-Veroeffentlichung-von-NFTs-1385043
https://www.gamepur.com/news/poppy-playtimes-developer-is-selling-nfts-linked-to-the-franchises-lore-but-not-for-long
Zach Belanger's response:
https://screenrant.com/poppy-playtme-developer-mob-games-controversy-nft-plagiarism
https://web.archive.org/web/20220504194640/https://twitter.com/mobgamesstudios/status/1521627181222354948
https://techraptor.net/gaming/news/poppy-playtime-faces-review-backlash-over-addition-of-nfts
https://www.pcgames.de/Spiele-Thema-239104/News/Poppy-Playtimeerhaelt-Welle-an-negativen-Bewertungen-nach-Veroeffentlichung-von-NFTs-1385043
https://www.gamepur.com/news/poppy-playtimes-developer-is-selling-nfts-linked-to-the-franchises-lore-but-not-for-long
Zach Belanger's response:
https://screenrant.com/poppy-playtme-developer-mob-games-controversy-nft-plagiarism
https://web.archive.org/web/20220504194640/https://twitter.com/mobgamesstudios/status/1521627181222354948
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The idea for Poppy Playtime was conceived by the game's director Isaac Christopherson, who stated that most people called indie horror games "walking simulators". This gave Mob Entertainment the idea to "create something with gameplay that doesn't feel quite so run-of-the-mill, while still staying exciting, terrifying, and unique."
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Zach Belanger's idea behind Huggy Wuggy was to "create something entirely new". His technique to make him terrifying was to make him larger than everything on screen. The conceit applied not only to Huggy Wuggy's height, but to his lanky limbs and outsize smile that, as the game progresses, morphs into more of a hungry maw.
subdirectory_arrow_right Venge (Game)
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Around Poppy Playtime's release, Mob Entertainment developer Ekrcoaster accused Mob Entertainment of plagiarizing his game, Venge. In a statement, Mob Entertainment CEO Zach Belanger denied these accusations, stating there was no intent to plagiarize.
Poppy Playtime controversy article:
https://screenrant.com/poppy-playtme-developer-mob-games-controversy-nft-plagiarism
Archived tweet of Zach Belanger statement:
https://web.archive.org/web/20220504194640/https://twitter.com/mobgamesstudios/status/1521627181222354948
https://screenrant.com/poppy-playtme-developer-mob-games-controversy-nft-plagiarism
Archived tweet of Zach Belanger statement:
https://web.archive.org/web/20220504194640/https://twitter.com/mobgamesstudios/status/1521627181222354948
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Chapter 1 was originally going to start with a sequence where the player arrives outside the Playtime Co. factory in their car. This was scrapped due to the large scope for such a brief segment.
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