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

Sony's plans to expand its family-friendly game offerings are fueled by the remarkable success of Astro Bot. Read on to discover more about Astro Bot's achievements and PlayStation's potential revival of legacy IPs.

PlayStation Expands into the Family Genre

Astro Bot Surpasses 1.5 Million Copies Sold

Since its September 2024 release, Astro Bot has been a phenomenal success, selling over 1.5 million copies and earning the coveted Game of the Year award at The Game Awards 2024. This success has spurred PlayStation to further invest in the family-friendly genre.

During Sony's Q3 Earnings Announcement on February 13, 2025, President, CEO, and CFO Hiroki Totoki highlighted Astro Bot's triumph at The Game Awards 2024, where it won four awards, including Game of the Year and Best Family Game. He also noted the success of Helldivers 2, winner of Best Ongoing Game and Best Multiplayer Game. Totoki emphasized that these wins signify significant progress in expanding PlayStation's portfolio into family-friendly and live service titles.

PlayStation's Family-Friendly History

PlayStation boasts a rich history of family-friendly titles, though many have been dormant for some time. As noted by The Gamer, franchises like Sly Cooper, Ape Escape, and Jak and Daxter haven't seen new installments in over a decade. Furthermore, the acquisition of Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon by Xbox leaves Ratchet & Clank and LittleBigPlanet as the primary recent examples of PlayStation's forays into this genre, alongside the groundbreaking Astro Bot.

In a December 2024 interview with Famitsu, PlayStation Studios CEO Hermen Hulst underscored the importance of Astro Bot to Sony, calling it "very, very important" and praising the small team's ability to create such a significant and celebrated game.

The Potential Return of Legacy IPs

Astro Bot's success, featuring appearances from various dormant PlayStation IPs, hints at a possible revival of these beloved franchises. Hulst previously highlighted the value of PlayStation's extensive IP portfolio, stating that they continually explore opportunities to leverage legacy IPs alongside developing new franchises.

The recent Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater trailer showcased the return of the Ape Escape monkeys, previously featured in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. The success of Sly Cooper on PlayStation Plus' Classics Catalog, becoming one of the highest-rated games on the PlayStation Store, further supports this potential trend. While no official announcements have been made, the signs point towards a renewed focus on PlayStation's family-friendly legacy.

New Astro Bot Content Arriving February 13, 2025

Five New Levels and Special Bots

Starting February 13, 2025, Astro Bot players can enjoy a free update featuring five new levels, including the level from the PlayStation XP Tournament Final in London. These levels are part of the new Vicious Void Galaxy, and will be released weekly:

• 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.

Team Asobi Studio Director Nicolas Doucet revealed that, unlike the Winter Wonder update, these levels will offer a more challenging experience, testing players' jumping skills. Each level includes a new Special Bot to rescue, and completed levels can be replayed in Time Attack mode with online rankings. PS5 Pro players will also experience a smoother 60fps gameplay.

Astro Bot is available exclusively on PlayStation 5. Visit our Astro Bot page for more details.