Sony is set to expand its horizons in the family gaming genre, inspired by the remarkable success of Astro Bot. Dive into the details of Astro Bot's achievements and how PlayStation plans to leverage its legacy IPs.
PlayStation Wants To Expand In The Family Genre
Astro Bot Sold Over 1.5 Million Copies
Since its launch in September 2024, Astro Bot has captured the hearts of gamers worldwide, selling over 1.5 million copies and clinching the coveted Game of the Year title at The Game Awards 2024. This triumph has fueled PlayStation's ambition to delve deeper into the family genre, as evidenced by comments from Sony's leadership.
During the Sony Q3 Earnings Announcement on February 13, 2025, Hiroki Totoki, Sony's President, CEO, and CFO, praised Astro Bot's achievements, which included winning four categories at The Game Awards 2024, such as Game of the Year and Best Family Game. He also highlighted the success of Helldivers 2, which won Best Ongoing Game and Best Multiplayer Game.
Totoki emphasized the significance of these wins for PlayStation's broader strategy: “The fact that titles in genres we are aiming to expand in the future, including titles for families and live service games, have received these awards is a major stride toward our building a broader title portfolio.”
Family Genre Titles Under PlayStation
PlayStation has a rich history with family-oriented games, though some of its beloved series like Sly Cooper, Ape Escape, and Jak and Daxter have not seen new releases in over a decade. Iconic franchises such as Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon have moved to Xbox, leaving Ratchet & Clank and Little Big Planet as the recent family genre efforts by PlayStation, with Astro Bot being the latest addition.
In a December 2024 interview with Famitsu, PlayStation Studios CEO Hermen Hulst underscored Astro Bot's significance: “Astro is very, very important to PlayStation,” he stated, adding, "It’s remarkable that a very small team is able to deliver a game that is so big, it’s really become a great game in itself, and it’s become a celebration of everything PlayStation at this point."
Possibility Of Legacy IPs Returning
Astro Bot's inclusion of various PlayStation titles has reignited interest in dormant IPs. Hulst has highlighted the importance of PlayStation’s extensive IP portfolio as a key asset, stating, "Our extensive IP portfolio is an important asset for PlayStation, and as part of our efforts to strengthen our portfolio, we continually explore opportunities to leverage our legacy IP as well as develop new franchises."
The recent trailer for Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater showcased the return of the Ape Escape monkeys, originally featured in the Snake vs. Monkey mini-game from Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. Additionally, Sly Cooper's success on PlayStation Plus’ Classics Catalog suggests potential for revival. While no official announcements have been made, these developments hint at PlayStation's interest in revisiting their family-friendly legacy IPs.
New Astro Bot Content Starting February 13, 2025
Five New Levels and Special Bots
Starting February 13, 2025, Astro Bot fans can look forward to a free update. In a PlayStation.Blog post dated February 13, 2025, Team Asobi Studio Director Nicolas Doucet announced the addition of four new levels, including one previously featured at the PlayStation XP Tournament Final in London, England. These levels will be part of the new Vicious Void Galaxy.
The schedule for the new levels is as follows:
- 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
These updates will be released every Thursday at 6:00 AM PT, 2:00 PM GMT, and 10:00 PM JST, from February 13 to March 13. Unlike the previous Winter Wonder update, these new levels are designed to challenge players' jumping skills. Each level will introduce a new Special Bot to rescue, and upon completion, levels can be replayed in Time Attack mode with online rankings. PS5 Pro players will enjoy the game running at 60fps.
Astro Bot remains an exclusive title for the PlayStation 5. For more details, visit our Astro Bot page.
