PlayStation Embraces Family Gaming After Astro Bot Triumph

Sony has set its sights on expanding into the family gaming genre, fueled by the phenomenal success of Astro Bot. Launched in September 2024, Astro Bot not only sold over 1.5 million copies but also clinched the prestigious Game of the Year title at The Game Awards 2024. Its achievements didn't stop there; Astro Bot also won Best Family Game among other accolades. This overwhelming success has clearly signaled to Sony the potential within the family genre, prompting them to consider more games in this category.

During the Sony Q3 Earnings Announcement on February 13, 2025, Sony President, CEO, and CFO Hiroki Totoki discussed the significance of Astro Bot's triumph and the company's future strategy. He highlighted the awards won by Astro Bot and also praised the success of Helldivers 2, which received Best Ongoing Game and Best Multiplayer Game awards. Totoki emphasized the importance of these wins in genres Sony aims to grow, 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.”

Astro Bot Sold Over 1.5 Million Copies

Family Genre Titles Under PlayStation

PlayStation has a rich history with family-friendly games, though recent years have seen less activity in this area. Notable franchises such as Sly Cooper, Ape Escape, and Jak and Daxter haven't seen new entries in over a decade. Meanwhile, beloved classics like Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon have moved to Xbox. This leaves Ratchet & Clank and Little Big Planet as the more recent family genre titles from PlayStation, alongside the newly successful Astro Bot.

In a December 2024 interview with Famitsu, PlayStation Studios CEO Hermen Hulst emphasized the importance of Astro Bot to Sony, stating, “Astro is very, very important to PlayStation,” and noting the remarkable achievement of a small team delivering such a significant game. He described Astro Bot as a celebration of everything PlayStation, highlighting its significance within the company's portfolio.

Possibility Of Legacy IPs Returning

Astro Bot itself showcased multiple PlayStation titles, bringing back "dormant IPs" after a long hiatus. Hulst has previously highlighted 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."

The recent Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater trailer, which featured the return of Ape Escape monkeys, suggests that PlayStation might be considering revisiting its legacy IPs. The success of Sly Cooper on PlayStation Plus’ Classics Catalog further indicates potential interest in reviving family-friendly classics.

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 that introduces new content. Team Asobi Studio Director Nicolas Doucet shared details on the PlayStation.Blog about these exciting additions. Astro Bot will receive five new levels within the Vicious Void Galaxy, including one featured during the PlayStation XP Tournament Final in London, England. The rollout schedule for these 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 available every Thursday at 6:00 AM PT, 2:00 PM GMT, and 10:00 PM JST from February 13 to March 13. Doucet mentioned that these levels will be more challenging, focusing on testing players' jumping skills. Each level comes with a new Special Bot to rescue, and completed levels can be replayed in Time Attack mode with online rankings. Additionally, PS5 Pro players can now enjoy the game at 60fps.

Astro Bot remains an exclusive title on PlayStation 5. For more details about the game, visit our dedicated Astro Bot page.