Sony, Media Molecule Officially Confirm LittleBigPlanet 2

After longstanding rumors, Sony and UK-based developer Media Molecule formally announced the PlayStation 3 game LittleBigPlanet 2 on Monday. The game is due in winter of this year. The original LittleBigPlanet, also developed by Media Molecule, allowed players to utilize a wide array of level creation tools in order to create platformer games. But with LittleBigPlanet 2 [YouTube trailer], creative gamers will be able to build games in different genres. "Think top-down racing games, multiplayer shooters, flying side-scrollers, RPGs, etc. The possibilities are really endless," said Sony Computer Entertainment America PR manager Eric Levine on the official PlayStation blog. The first LittleBigPlanet launched on PS3 in November 2008, later being converted to PlayStation Portable, and received widespread critical acclaim. This new version will expand upon the ideas of the first by adding more options and game creation tools. The game will have a substantial amount of new features, including a better search system, improved community features, new characters, new cinematic tools, controller customization, and powerups for the game's sack-people. For the original LittleBigPlanet, gamers created 2.3 million levels, Media Molecule said. All of those levels are compatible with LittleBigPlanet 2, and will "look better than ever," the studio said. LittleBigPlanet kicked off the "Play, Create, Share" category at Sony, a segment that will include the upcoming user-generated kart-racing game, ModNation Racers. Sony acquired Media Molecule in March this year.