Sony is set to expand its family-oriented game offerings, driven by the remarkable success of Astro Bot. Discover more about Astro Bot’s achievements and PlayStation’s iconic franchises.
Since its September 2024 launch, Astro Bot has achieved extraordinary success, selling over 1.5 million copies and earning Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2024. PlayStation, however, is not stopping there and plans to develop more family-friendly titles inspired by Astro Bot’s popularity.
During Sony’s Q3 Earnings Call on February 13, 2025, President, CEO, and CFO Hiroki Totoki discussed Astro Bot’s success and the company’s future direction. He emphasized the game’s four wins at The Game Awards 2024, including Game of the Year and Best Family Game, alongside Helldivers 2’s victories in Best Ongoing Game and Best Multiplayer Game.
Totoki highlighted PlayStation’s progress in targeted genres. “The recognition of titles in family and live service genres, which we aim to expand, marks significant progress in diversifying our game portfolio,” he stated.
PlayStation has a rich history of family-friendly titles, though many have been dormant in recent years. According to The Gamer, franchises like Sly Cooper, Ape Escape, and Jak and Daxter have not seen new releases in over a decade.
Meanwhile, classic franchises such as Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon are now under Xbox’s umbrella. This leaves Ratchet & Clank, Little Big Planet, and the recent Astro Bot as PlayStation’s active family-oriented titles.
In a December 2024 interview with Famitsu, PlayStation Studios CEO Hermen Hulst underscored Astro Bot’s significance to Sony. “Astro Bot is a cornerstone for PlayStation,” Hulst said, adding, “It’s incredible that a small team crafted such a monumental game, celebrating PlayStation’s legacy.”
Astro Bot incorporated several PlayStation franchises, reviving long-dormant IPs. Hulst previously emphasized the value of PlayStation’s extensive IP catalog, stating, “Our diverse IP portfolio is a key strength, and we’re always exploring ways to leverage legacy IPs while creating new franchises.”
The recent Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater trailer featured the return of Ape Escape monkeys, echoing their appearance in the original Metal Gear Solid 3’s Snake vs. Monkey mini-game. Sly Cooper also saw renewed interest after its success on PlayStation Plus’ Classics Catalog, ranking among the highest-rated titles on the PlayStation Store.
While no official plans have been confirmed, these developments suggest PlayStation may revisit its family-friendly classics in the near future.
Astro Bot fans can look forward to a free update starting February 13, 2025. In a PlayStation.Blog post on the same day, Team Asobi Studio Director Nicolas Doucet shared details about the upcoming content.
The update introduces five new levels, including one showcased at the PlayStation XP Tournament Final in London, England. These levels will be part of the new Vicious Void Galaxy.
● February 13: Tick-Tock Shock
● February 20: Thrust or Bust
● February 27: Cock-A-Doodle-Doom
● March 6: Hard to Bear
● March 13: Armored Hardcore
Updates will roll out every Thursday from February 13 to March 13 at 6:00 AM PT, 2:00 PM GMT, and 10:00 PM JST.
Doucet noted that, unlike the Winter Wonder update, these levels are designed to be more challenging, testing players’ jumping skills. Each level includes a new Special Bot to rescue, with the option to replay in Time Attack mode with online leaderboards. PS5 Pro users can also enjoy the game at 60fps.
Astro Bot is exclusive to PlayStation 5. Visit our Astro Bot page for more details about the game.
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