Astro Bot's Triumph Fuels PS Focus on Family-Oriented Titles

PlayStation's renewed focus on family-friendly games, fueled by Astro Bot's success, signals a potential resurgence of beloved legacy IPs.

A Family-Friendly Future for PlayStation

Astro Bot's phenomenal success, exceeding 1.5 million copies sold and earning Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2024, has prompted PlayStation to expand its family-genre offerings. This strategic shift was highlighted by Sony's President, CEO, and CFO, Hiroki Totoki, during the Q3 Earnings Announcement. The awards garnered by Astro Bot, including Best Family Game, and the success of Helldivers 2 underscore PlayStation's growing strength in these genres. Totoki emphasized the importance of these wins in building a more diverse game portfolio.

Reviving Dormant IPs?

While PlayStation boasts a rich history of family-friendly titles like Sly Cooper, Ape Escape, and Jak and Daxter, these franchises have seen limited activity in recent years. The absence of new entries, coupled with the loss of Crash Bandicoot and Spyro to Xbox, leaves Ratchet & Clank, LittleBigPlanet, and the newly successful Astro Bot as the mainstays of PlayStation's recent family-friendly output. PlayStation Studios CEO Hermen Hulst stressed Astro Bot's significance, praising the small team's achievement in creating a game that embodies the PlayStation spirit.

Legacy IPs and Future Possibilities

Hulst has previously emphasized the value of PlayStation's extensive IP portfolio, hinting at the potential revival of dormant franchises. The inclusion of Ape Escape monkeys in the Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater trailer, and the success of Sly Cooper on PlayStation Plus' Classics Catalog, fuel speculation about the return of classic family-friendly titles. While unconfirmed, this suggests a strategic move by PlayStation to leverage its legacy IPs.

Astro Bot Expansion: New Content Arrives

Starting February 13th, 2025, Astro Bot receives a free update featuring five challenging new levels within the Vicious Void Galaxy, each introducing a new Special Bot to rescue. This update, detailed by Team Asobi Studio Director Nicolas Doucet, includes levels of increased difficulty and Time Attack mode with online rankings. PS5 Pro players will also benefit from a boosted 60fps experience.

The release schedule for the new levels is as follows:

• February 13th: Tick-Tock Shock
• February 20th: Thrust or Bust
• February 27th: Cock-A-Doodle-Doom
• March 6th: Hard to Bear
• March 13th: Armored Hardcore

All updates will be released at 6:00 AM PT, 2:00 PM GMT, and 10:00 PM JST every Thursday. Astro Bot remains a PlayStation 5 exclusive.