Astro Bot Success Inspires PlayStation to Focus More on Family Friendly Games

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

Astro Bot's Triumph: Astro Bot, released in September 2024, has surpassed 1.5 million copies sold and clinched the Game of the Year award at The Game Awards 2024. This success, along with the strong performance of Helldivers 2, prompted Sony's leadership to emphasize expansion into family-focused and live-service gaming.

A Family-Friendly Portfolio Reimagined: While PlayStation boasts a history of family-friendly titles (Sly Cooper, Ape Escape, Jak and Daxter), many have remained dormant. The loss of Crash Bandicoot and Spyro to Xbox leaves Ratchet & Clank, LittleBigPlanet, and Astro Bot as recent examples of PlayStation's efforts in this genre. PlayStation Studios CEO Hermen Hulst underscored Astro Bot's significance, highlighting its impact and the team's achievement.

Legacy IPs and Future Possibilities: Hulst's emphasis on PlayStation's extensive IP portfolio hints at a potential revival of classic franchises. The inclusion of Ape Escape monkeys in the Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater trailer, coupled with Sly Cooper's popularity on PlayStation Plus' Classics Catalog, suggests a strategic re-evaluation of these dormant assets. While not officially confirmed, a renewed focus on family-friendly titles seems likely.

New Astro Bot Content Arrives: A free update launching February 13, 2025, introduces five challenging new levels within the Vicious Void Galaxy, each featuring a unique Special Bot to rescue and subsequent Time Attack mode with online leaderboards. PS5 Pro users can now enjoy a 60fps experience. 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

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