Sony Expanding Family Games After Astro Bot’s Success

Sony is doubling down on the family game genre following the massive success of Astro Bot. With over 1.5 million copies sold and a Game of the Year win at TGA 2024, Astro Bot has proven there’s a strong demand for PlayStation-exclusive platformers. Now, Sony is looking to expand its portfolio and possibly revive some of its most beloved legacy IPs.

Sony Plans to Expand in the Family Genre

During a recent earnings call, Sony president Hiroki Totoki highlighted the importance of diversifying PlayStation’s gaming lineup. He noted that Helldivers 2 had also performed well, winning Best Ongoing Game and Best Multiplayer Game, but emphasized that family-friendly titles would be a key focus moving forward.

“The fact that titles in genres we are planning to expand in the future, including titles for families and live service games, have received these awards, is a major stride towards building a broad title portfolio,” Totoki stated, as reported by VGC.

Could Sly Cooper, Jak and Daxter, and Ape Escape Return?

While Sony still has active franchises like Ratchet & Clank and LittleBigPlanet, many classic platformers have been absent for years. Sly Cooper, Ape Escape, and Jak and Daxter haven’t seen new entries in over a decade. Meanwhile, PlayStation icons Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon are now owned by Xbox, leaving fans hoping for a resurgence of Sony’s own classic franchises.

Herman Hulst, PlayStation Studios boss, teased last year that Sony is exploring ways to bring back its “legacy IP.” The recent popularity of Astro Bot’s dedicated Ape Escape level, as well as the return of the Ape Escape-themed mode in the Metal Gear Solid 3 remake, suggests Sony is testing the waters for a full revival.

Deep-Cut PlayStation IPs Might Be Making a Comeback

VGC editor-in-chief Andy Robinson added fuel to the speculation, revealing that Sony is “working on the deep, deep-cut old IP,” suggesting that smaller classic games might return alongside bigger PlayStation exclusives. With Sly Cooper and Jak and Daxter ranking among the highest-rated PS Plus additions, demand for these beloved platformers remains strong.

The Future of PlayStation’s Family Games

While it’s unclear which classic franchises will return, it’s evident that Sony is taking family games seriously. With Astro Bot proving the potential of PlayStation platformers, the door is now open for more revivals. Fans will have to wait and see if Sony brings back Sly Cooper, Jak and Daxter, or Ape Escape, but one thing is certain—Astro Bot is just the beginning of Sony’s push into the family gaming space.