Sony plans to create more family-genre games due to the recent success of Astro Bot. Read to learn more about Astro Bot’s success and PlayStation’s legacy IPs.
PlayStation Wants To Expand In The Family Genre
Astro Bot Sold Over 1.5 Million Copies
Astro Bot has seen remarkable success since its release in September 2024, selling over 1.5 million copies and clinching the coveted Game of the Year title at The Game Awards 2024. This triumph has spurred PlayStation to consider further development in the family genre.
During Sony's Q3 Earnings Announcement on February 13, 2025, President, CEO, and CFO Hiroki Totoki discussed Astro Bot's achievements, noting its wins in four categories at The Game Awards 2024, including Game of the Year and Best Family Game. He also praised the successful launch of Helldivers 2, which took home Best Ongoing Game and Best Multiplayer Game awards.
Totoki emphasized the significance of these accolades, stating, “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 genre titles, though some have seen less action recently. As reported by The Gamer, franchises like Sly Cooper, Ape Escape, and Jak and Daxter have not seen new entries in over a decade. Meanwhile, classic PlayStation titles such as Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon have moved to Xbox. This leaves Ratchet & Clank and Little Big Planet as the recent family-friendly titles, with Astro Bot being the latest addition.
In a December 2024 interview with Famitsu, PlayStation Studios CEO Hermen Hulst underscored Astro Bot's importance to Sony. He remarked, “Astro is very, very important to PlayStation,” and highlighted the impressive work of a small team, stating, "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 rekindled interest in dormant IPs. Hulst has emphasized the value of PlayStation’s extensive IP portfolio, noting, "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."
Recent developments, such as the inclusion of Ape Escape monkeys in the Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater trailer, hint at a potential revival of classic titles. The success of Sly Cooper on PlayStation Plus’ Classics Catalog further suggests that PlayStation might revisit its family genre IPs in the future.
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 post on the PlayStation.Blog, Team Asobi Studio Director Nicolas Doucet announced exciting new content for the game.
Astro Bot will introduce four new levels, including one featured at the PlayStation XP Tournament Final in London, England. These five levels will be set within the new Vicious Void Galaxy. The release schedule 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 available 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 will challenge players' jumping skills. Each level will include a new Special Bot to rescue, and upon completion, can be replayed in Time Attack mode with online rankings. Additionally, PS5 Pro players can now enjoy the game at 60fps.
Astro Bot is available exclusively on PlayStation 5. For more information about the game, visit our Astro Bot page.
