Dreams Is Dying: Support Ends For Playstation Creative Program

9 Comments | dreams, Media Molecule, playstation 4, playstation 5, sony | By Peter Paltridge | April 11, 2023 | 2 minutes of reading

Media Molecule’s Dreams has to be the most ambitious idea I’ve ever seen attempted on a game console. One of the first games announced for the PS4 — but not released until late in its lifecycle due to lengthy development — Dreams was less of a game and more of a game maker. This was not a simple, watered-down tool like Nintendo‘s Game Builder Garage — this was a full-fledged, kitted-out suite of development tools through which it was possible to make virtually anything in virtual 3D space, provided you could master the interface.

But despite its massive potential, Dreams never truly caught fire with the mainstream. We can only speculate why that is, but two things stand out for me. One is that all that power comes with a price: Dreams is rather complicated and overwhelming. I found it rather difficult to get anything to look good and gave up quickly, choosing to play other people’s games instead. I found I wasn’t alone. The library of user creations you can access on Dreams is a graveyard of unfinished projects that started with high ambition but were abandoned when the tool proved too frustrating.

The second issue is that it’s unprecedented for a development tool this powerful (and complicated) to be tethered to a game console with no means of distribution any other way. The level of time and investment one could apply into learning Dreams could be equally applied to learning an ACTUAL game development tool like Unity — and then you can sell your game and show it to people who DON’T own Unity. I think Sony‘s biggest mistake with Dreams was not offering a PC version, or making the program more open.

Media Molecule says they were “not able to define a sustainable path” for Dreams, which probably means they couldn’t justify spending cash on continued updates to the program with such a small userbase. So they’ve announced updates to Dreams will cease this September. The program will still be available and purchasable, but more limited — upload space on your account will be restricted to 5GB. It’s expected that interest in the program will continue to dwindle from there. That’s a pity.

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Jodio

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17 messages 0 likes

#1 Apr 12, 2023

Damn- it's really unfortunate that Dreams didn't quite take off as expected. I can definitely relate to the challenges of navigating a complex development tool. It's a shame that Media Molecule couldn't find a sustainable path forward, but I hope they'll be able to channel their talent into other exciting projects in the future.

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Callisto Chastity

New Member

48 messages 19 likes

#2 Apr 12, 2023

I think it's a shame that Dreams won't receive further updates, but I appreciate the fact that it offered a level of creative freedom that was truly unique. It's impressive that the program allowed users to create virtually anything in 3D space. I'll definitely miss exploring the library of user-created content.It's understandable that Media Molecule couldn't find a sustainable path forward for Dreams given the small userbase. However, it's still disappointing to see such a promising idea not reach its full potential. I hope other game developers will take inspiration from Dreams and continue to experiment with innovative ways of empowering players to create their own content.

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Franklin Vancey

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7 messages 0 likes

#3 Apr 12, 2023

I appreciate the ambition and creativity that went into Dreams, even if it ultimately didn't catch on with the mainstream. It's always refreshing to see developers taking risks and exploring new ideas.Despite its meager user base, Dreams made a significant impact on the gaming industry and provided a space for creative expression. It will be missed. This reminds me of what happened to Resident Evil: outbreak. Brilliant Idea but way ahead of its time.

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Pink Elephant

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27 messages 0 likes

#4 Apr 12, 2023

how truly unfortunate to hear that support for Dreams is coming to an end. As a gamer who values creativity and innovation, I was always impressed by the level of ambition that went into the program. While I can understand the challenges that come with a complicated interface, I still believe that Dreams was a unique and valuable contribution to the gaming industry.

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Snapsnuffle

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9 messages 0 likes

#5 Apr 12, 2023

All Good things coming to an especially if its too early but it's especially disappointing when that program was as groundbreaking as Dreams. The developers at Media Molecule should be commended for their efforts in pushing the boundaries of what's possible in game creation. While it's sad to see the program go, I'm grateful for the experiences and opportunities it provided to gamers.

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Murder Clown

I wanna make you laugh and then I want to stab you

21 messages 0 likes

#6 Apr 12, 2023

The news that support for Dreams is ending is a real blow to anyone who values creativity and expression in gaming. While the program was certainly complex, I think that was part of what made it so exciting. It was a unique and ambitious project that offered gamers an opportunity to explore their own creativity in new and exciting ways. I hope that other developers will continue to take risks and explore new avenues in game creation.Dreams was always a unique and ambitious program, and it's a shame to see it come to an end. I think the complexity of the program may have been a barrier for some users, but I also think it was part of what made it so intriguing. It offered a level of depth and nuance that is rarely seen in game creation tools. While it's disappointing to see the program go, I'm grateful for the opportunities it provided to gamers and creators alike.

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Stormer

I'm okay!

34 messages 1 like

#7 Apr 12, 2023

I didn't even know this exist so it makes sense for it to flop because of weak marketing.

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BugBusterBrock

Master Pest Controller

91 messages 15 likes

#8 Apr 12, 2023

Duh, It's no surprise that Dreams is coming to an end. The program was simply not good enough to hold people's interest for very long. While it may have had potential, the reality is that it just wasn't compelling enough to keep users engaged. It's a shame, but sometimes even the most ambitious projects just don't pan out.. It was overly complicated, confusing, and just not very fun to use. It's a shame that such a unique idea was executed so poorly, but ultimately it just wasn't a good program.

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