Poppy Playtime's ARG has proven to be a goldmine of lore, spawning countless theories within the community, but recently-released trailers for Project: Playtime have finally confirmed a new official character in the game's universe. Boxy Boo, a monstrous interpretation of a jack-in-a-box, has been teased throughout the duration of the ARG. However, these easy-to-miss details reveal parts of his identity in the Poppy Playtime universe.
Project: Playtime is an upcoming multiplayer game based on its single-player counterpart, Poppy Playtime. The asymmetrical survival horror, which is set to release for early access on December 6, will pit six Playtime Co. employees against a single monster as they attempt to build a giant toy and escape the factory. In both the new cinematic trailer on YouTube and the Project: Playtime Steam page, two familiar faces are featured as playable monsters: Huggy Wuggy and the better Poppy Playtime monster, Mommy Long Legs. Interestingly, they are accompanied by Boxy Boo, newcomer to Playtime Co. and an otherwise quite cryptic character.
Boxy Boo Is Significantly Dangerous In Poppy Playtime Lore
A picture shared by Playtime Co. on Twitter shows that the Boxy Boo toy has been in production since the 1960s. Taking the form of a seemingly harmless jack-in-a-box, it is adorned with elementary shapes and primary colors. However, as seen in the cinematic trailer, the surprise contained within is much more sinister than it may appear. Boxy Boo has two hands and feet attached on springs, complete with claws, which pop out of the sides of the box - as well as a large, square-shaped head with beady black eyes and sharp fangs lining his mouth. He can be seen jumping out at the employee, engulfing his head in his mouth before whisking him inside his box.
This wouldn't be the first time that Poppy Playtime's terrifying new monster has murdered a Playtime Co. employee. In fact, the main protagonist of the ARG, Rowan Stoll, was killed by Boxy Boo. As the Head of Information Technology, Stoll was an important member of the company, who (like several others) noticed something strange was happening with the toys. He brought up his concerns with Elliot Ludwig, the founder, but this seemingly backfired on him, as he made what appears to be a forced apology video not long afterwards. In one of the last ARG files to be discovered, Stoll could be seen entering an unknown and potentially restricted area, where he was promptly devoured by Boxy Boo himself.
So little is known about Boxy Boo's abilities that it rivals the mystery of the Prototype in Poppy Playtime, but if they are anything like his canon powers, they will likely be a great threat to survivors. The gameplay trailer on Steam provides a brief glimpse of his UI, but as the game is still in an early build, they may not be reflective of fully realized gameplay. However, in the game's description on the same Steam page, he is described as a "springy hunter." This certainly alludes to his jack-in-a-box nature, but it could also be indicative of his playstyle as a potentially high-octane character with sudden, movement-based abilities. It is also possible that his signature move - consuming people in a single, swift motion - could be a part of his kit.
With only a couple of weeks left before the game's release, it's unlikely that fans will be given much more information about Boxy Boo. Although Project: Playtime may struggle compared to Poppy Playtime, this horrifying toy-turned-demon looks like he will fit seamlessly into the unnerving atmosphere fostered by Playtime Co. Whether he remains exclusive to the co-op title, or if he makes an appearance in future chapters of the main game, Boxy Boo has yet to reveal all his cards - but promising lore and terrifying gameplay trailers may indicate a surprisingly potent new character in Project: Playtime.
Source: Mob Entertainment/Youtube, Project: Playtime/Steam, Playtime Co./Twitter