Astro Bot, the acclaimed platformer game from Team Asobi, has been praised for its ability to celebrate the rich history of PlayStation and the world of video games. However, the absence of some iconic characters, such as Cloud and Sephiroth from the Final Fantasy series, generated disappointment among fans at its initial launch. This fact led to a public outcry to include these iconic figures in the game. Robot Fantasy Team Asobi listened to these requests, acknowledging the disappointment of the fans. Nicolas Doucet, the game director, expressed in interviews that while the demand was clear, Square […]
Astro Bot, the acclaimed platformer game from Team Asobi, has been praised for its ability to celebrate the rich history of PlayStation and the world of video games. However, the absence of some iconic characters, such as Cloud and Sephiroth from the Final Fantasy series, caused disappointment among fans at its initial launch. This fact led to a public outcry to include these iconic figures in the game.
Robot Fantasy
Team Asobi listened to these requests, acknowledging the disappointment of the fans. Nicolas Doucet, the game director, expressed in interviews that although the demand was clear, Square Enix was not initially interested in collaborating to include their characters. Over time, and with the recognition of the game’s success, it seems that the situation has changed.
Recently, five free levels have been added to the game, which now include Cloud and Sephiroth as unlockable bots. This move represents a triumph for fans, as they are only available after completing them, offering a more complex experience for experienced players. Cloud is hidden behind the level titled “High Inflation,” while Sephiroth requires greater skill to be unlocked, in an additional challenge that enriches the gameplay of Astro Bot.
In addition to Cloud and Sephiroth, other characters like Atsu from Ghost of Yotei and 2B from Nier Automata will also be available in these new missions. This addition not only offers emotional rewards but also promises to keep players engaged in the late game of the title. Despite the cameos, the creators have considered the possibility of giving the franchise an independent identity in future installments, moving away from relying on the inclusion of recognized characters.
The phenomenon of Astro Bot continues to resonate in the video game industry. After its release several months ago, this title from Team Asobi has been recognized as the Game of the Year 2024, a distinction that reaffirms its quality and popularity. At the BAFTA Game Awards 2025, Astro Bot took home five awards, thus consolidating its success and connection with its audience. The future of Astro Bot seems different from what we imagined. In an exclusive post-awards interview, creative director Nicolas Doucet revealed that the team never anticipated the impact the game would have. “Creating Astro […]
The phenomenon of Astro Bot continues to resonate in the video game industry. After its release several months ago, this title from Team Asobi has been recognized as the Game of the Year 2024, a distinction that reaffirms its quality and popularity. At the BAFTA Game Awards 2025, Astro Bot took home five awards, thus consolidating its success and connection with its audience.
The future of Astro Bot seems different from what we imagined
In an exclusive post-awards interview, creative director Nicolas Doucet revealed that the team never anticipated the impact the game would have. “While creating Astro Bot, we only thought about making the best game possible to celebrate 30 years of PlayStation and connect with family audiences,” he commented. This design philosophy translated into an experience that has captivated players of all ages.
The expansion of the franchise seems imminent, as Team Asobi is evaluating the possibility of creating more video games and, surprisingly, adapting Astro Bot into a series or movie in Hollywood. The interest in bringing Astro’s adventures to new platforms reflects the character’s potential as a new PlayStation mascot with a bright future.
Doucet also emphasized the importance of balancing cameos from other PlayStation sagas with the original identity of Astro Bot. “We want Astro to have his own identity, even though it’s fun to connect with the story of the games,” he said. This dual approach suggests that the team aims not only to attract fans of other franchises but also to establish Astro as an icon in his own right.
Finally, Doucet did not overlook the influence of Nintendo on the platforming genre, paying tribute to the company after receiving the GOTY 2024. With the growing interest in the future of Astro Bot, fans can expect exciting news on the horizon.
Astro Bot has been recognized again, this time highlighting the vision of its director, Nicolas Doucet, about the video game industry. After winning the Game of the Year award at last year’s Game Awards, Doucet spoke during a panel at the Game Developers Conference that the goal in developing Astro Bot was to create a game that could be completed in a reasonable amount of time. According to him, “from the beginning we had the mindset that it’s okay to make a compact game… it’s okay to make a small game.” We have too many games pending to not want to enjoy more experiences […]
Astro Bot has been recognized once again, this time highlighting the vision of its director, Nicolas Doucet, regarding the video game industry. After winning the Game of the Year award at last year’s Game Awards, Doucet spoke during a panel at the Game Developers Conference that the goal in developing Astro Bot was to create a game that could be completed in a reasonable amount of time. According to him, “from the beginning we had the mindset that it’s okay to make a compact game… it’s okay to make a small game.”
We have too many pending games to not want to enjoy shorter experiences
This approach responds to the current reality of many players who face an overwhelming list of pending titles. Doucet points out that the possibility of finishing a game has become a persuasive argument for both developers and players. In an oversaturated market of large-scale titles, the proposal of shorter games presents itself as an attractive alternative, especially for those who cannot keep up with extensive sagas like Assassin’s Creed.
The author of the article expresses his desire for more small games to be developed, emphasizing how overwhelming long-duration experiences can be. “My backlog can’t handle another massive RPG,” he states, highlighting the growing need for titles that offer more concise and satisfying experiences.
Looking to the future, Team Asobi has big plans for 2024, suggesting that Astro Bot could break free from its exclusive legacy on PlayStation and explore new opportunities within the industry. This move could pave the way for the iconic character to reach a broader and more diverse audience, setting a new standard in game creation that prioritizes gameplay and accessibility.
More than four years have passed since the release of Ghost of Tsushima, a title that still attracts players who continue to explore its stunning world. The community, however, eagerly awaits the arrival of Ghost of Yotei, the new installment from Sucker Punch, which will take place in 17th century feudal Japan, approximately 400 years after the events featuring Jin Sakai. The game is scheduled to launch in 2025 exclusively for PS5 and PS5 Pro. The philosophy of Sony’s studios: on the shoulders of giants Brian Fleming, one of the leaders of the studio, […]
More than four years have passed since the release of Ghost of Tsushima, a title that still attracts players who continue to explore its stunning world. The community, however, eagerly awaits the arrival of Ghost of Yotei, the new installment from Sucker Punch, which will take place in 17th century feudal Japan, approximately 400 years after the events featuring Jin Sakai. The game is scheduled to be released in 2025 exclusively for PS5 and PS5 Pro.
The philosophy of Sony’s studies: on the shoulders of giants
Brian Fleming, one of the studio leaders, shared his vision for this anticipated project in a recent conversation with Nicolas Doucet, director of Astro Bot. Fleming emphasized the studio’s philosophy of building new games on the foundations of their predecessors, noting that “we see it as a ladder, where each game builds on the work done in the previous ones”. This mindset not only translates into technical improvements but also aims to enrich the narrative and game design.
The Sucker Punch team is aware of the criticisms that Ghost of Tsushima received, especially regarding the lack of variety in its open world, and they seem committed to exceeding these expectations. According to Fleming, Ghost of Yotei will offer a more diverse world and a deeper story, which could translate into innovative and less repetitive gameplay mechanics.
The story will focus on a new protagonist named Atsu, who will be accompanied by a wolf that will assist her in her confrontations with enemies. The setting will take place in the northern area of Japan, specifically near Mount Yotei, which promises to immerse players in a fresh and exciting environment.
The closure of Japan Studio, announced by Sony Interactive Entertainment in April 2021, marked a turning point in video game production in Japan. Shuhei Yoshida, former president of the company, has recently commented in several podcasts that the disappearance of the AA game market was one of the key factors behind this decision. During his tenure, Yoshida emphasized that although Japan Studio created high-quality products, its lack of successful AAA releases, apart from Gran Turismo, contributed to its financial and creative difficulties. Yoshida mentioned that with rising costs and the […]
The closure of Japan Studio, announced by Sony Interactive Entertainment in April 2021, marked a turning point in video game production in Japan. Shuhei Yoshida, former president of the company, has recently commented in several podcasts that the disappearance of the AA game market was one of the key factors behind this decision. During his tenure, Yoshida emphasized that, although Japan Studio created high-quality products, its lack of successful AAA releases, apart from Gran Turismo, contributed to its financial and creative difficulties.
Yoshida mentioned that with rising costs and the scale of major releases, lower-budget games faced an increasingly complicated market. The intellectual properties of Japan Studio, many of which belonged to this AA segment, failed to find a viable space in an environment dominated by large-scale titles. This resulted in the studio’s inability to advance innovative projects, such as Keiichiro Toyama’s proposals for a sequel to Gravity Rush.
There is still room for AA… ironically, within Sony
Despite the closure, the essence of Japan Studio has endured in Team Asobi, a spin-off that has managed to capture the public’s attention with its successful game Astro Bot, which received the Game of the Year award at The Game Awards 2024. On the other hand, the closure of Japan Studio allowed Toyama to found his own company, which is currently working on Slitterhead, an anticipated game for 2024. This reflects the evolution of lost talent and the resilience of the Japanese video game industry in the face of changing challenges.
Has Nintendo been surpassed by one of its arch-enemies? Some certainly think so. Astro Bot, the latest title from Team Asobi, has been a great success in the video game industry, becoming the Game of the Year for 2024. In fact, at the New York Game Awards 2025, it was nominated in four categories, including best children’s game, best soundtrack, best world, and best game of the year, winning the award in three of them. However, it fell short of winning in the best world category, which was awarded […]
Has Nintendo been surpassed by one of its arch-enemies? Some certainly think so. Astro Bot, the latest title from Team Asobi, has been a great success in the video game industry, becoming the Game of the Year 2024. In fact, at the New York Game Awards 2025, it was nominated in four categories, including best children’s game, best soundtrack, best world, and best game of the year, winning the award in three of them. However, it fell short of winning in the best world category, which was awarded to Elden Ring.
The award for best children’s game was presented by Reggie Fils-Aimé, former president of Nintendo of America, who, with a humorous tone, commented that Astro Bot “almost beat Nintendo at its own game”, a statement that elicited laughter from the audience. This comment reflects the constant comparison between Astro Bot and Nintendo’s iconic platform video games, particularly the Mario series.
Nicolas Doucet, director of Team Asobi, has acknowledged the influence of Nintendo in the development of Astro Bot, noting at the time that the work was inspired by Mario games, highlighting how Nintendo “put platform games on the map”. During last month’s awards ceremony, Doucet reiterated his admiration for the quality and constant innovation that the Japanese company has brought to the industry.
Since its launch, Astro Bot has been acclaimed for its design and gameplay, garnering awards that consolidate its position in the competitive world of video games. This recognition not only highlights the success of Team Asobi but also initiates an interesting conversation about the evolution of the genre and the comparisons that inevitably arise with Nintendo’s masterpiece.
Sony is having a 2024 defined by its tremendous ups and downs. The unexpected success of Astro Bot and Helldivers 2 is accompanied by the biggest failure in video game history with Concord. All of this in less than six months, while the company is wavering, trying to understand what it wants to be from now on. But it seems that Sony has it clear. Or at least that’s what they want to communicate. Because the Japanese company has made it clear that they are not going to change their business model for the future. Good results for Sony, but PlayStation 5 is faltering Sony has revealed the financial results […]
Sony is having a 2024 defined by its tremendous ups and downs. The unexpected success of Astro Bot and Helldivers 2 is accompanied by the biggest failure in video game history with Concord. All this in less than six months, while the company is wavering, trying to understand what it wants to be from now on. But it seems that Sony has it clear. Or at least that’s what they want to communicate. Because the Japanese company has made it clear that they are not going to change their business model for the future.
Good results for Sony, but PlayStation 5 falters
Sony has revealed the financial results for the last quarter, which ended on September 30, and sales in video games and web-based services have increased by 12%. Comfortably settling at 7 billion. The company emphasizes that this growth is due to the sale of third-party games, especially highlighting a new sports title, EA Sports FC 25, and a Chinese action RPG, Black Myth Wukong. Acknowledging that their greatest successes come from outside their own sphere of influence.
Regarding its own numbers, PlayStation 5 has already sold 65 million consoles worldwide. A good figure, although not spectacular, that starts to falter compared to the curve drawn by its predecessor, not to mention a console like Nintendo Switch. But it is a good figure, and that’s why Sony has taken the opportunity to announce that their plan remains to launch a mix of single-player games and games as a service in the future.
They will continue to maintain their current development plan, but does it really work?
The reason for this is that they consider that, so far, this strategy has been a success. Astro Bot has sold 1.5 million copies in 9 weeks since its launch and 37% of the people who bought it are new users, which are excellent metrics for Sony. And although games as a service have had mixed results, according to Sony, the absolute failure of Concord and the cancellation of the multiplayer of The Last of Us in addition to at least another half dozen games, would be offset by the great success that Helldivers 2 has been. This is why they would continue to promote this hybrid model for the time being.
The expectations for the company are to have record profits for this fiscal year, which would justify its plans. Something beneficial for Sony, no doubt, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that their plan is working. Whether this mixed model works or not is something that will be appreciated in the medium and long term, as the cancellation of developments and closure of studios is not necessarily reflected in quarterly calculations. Often not even in annual ones. And that’s why what may seem like good news today could well come back to bite Sony in the future if they are not careful.
PlayStation app is a free application specially designed for PS4 and PS5. With it, you can download and start your favorite games, customize your profile, see which friends are online, and discover the latest news from PlayStation Store.
Astro Bot has not only taken the gaming world by surprise, but also Sony, who expected success, but not of this magnitude. At this point it is a very serious contender for game of the year. How could they not be happy at PlayStation?
Hermen Hulst, who has just been chosen as CEO of PlayStation recently, is very proud of what he has achieved (although perhaps not so much for the response to the PS5 Pro, but that’s another matter). For now, Hulst believes it is a “huge” game and has commented that “it is one of the best in the genre, with a player base ranging from younger players to those of my age.”
If you wonder about his age, it’s not exactly known, but we can estimate around 45. It’s clear that he likes Astro Bot and believes that the future of the console lies in this franchise: “Astro is very, very important for PlayStation. Obviously, we had it pre-installed on PS5, which millions and millions of players embraced and loved, and I think it has become a platform to launch this new game“.
Will we ever see an Astro Bot made by a team of hundreds of people? Will we have more family games from Sony, facing off against Nintendo? For now, Hulst doesn’t give anything away, but he affirms that “I think it’s very important for PlayStation studios to develop games in various genres, and the family market is very important to us.” Exciting things are coming.
Astro Bot is winning over all PlayStation 5 players—including us. This little robot has learned the best lessons possible from Nintendo games—not only from Mario—and that is demonstrated in a deep, fun and ever-changing experience. That’s why it’s not surprising that Team Asobi, a studio that has demonstrated its expertise, already has something up its sleeve to keep us hooked in the short term.
The creative director of Astro Bot, Nicolas Doucet, has confirmed that the game will have a free DLC. As we told you a few days ago, this DLC will contain new levels, both for speedrun and challenges, that will test your skills. But that’s not all. It will also add scoreboards to the game, so you can compete with your friends and other players, as well as new VIP Bots. In other words, new robots characterized as video game characters that have not appeared in the game so far.
In addition, they have made another announcement, perhaps the most important of all. This DLC, in addition to being free, will be released this year. That means we won’t have to wait more than three months to enjoy more Astro Bot if we manage to finish it before it comes out. So brace yourselves because there are some good challenges coming.
Playstation app is a free application specially designed for PS4 and PS5. With it, you can download and start your favorite games, customize your profile, know which friends are online, and discover the latest news from the PlayStation Store.
Astro Bot hasn’t even been released yet and it’s already a resounding success. With its release date set for next Friday, September 6th, the game is already a critical success, being the highest-rated game of the year on Metacritic. And according to everyone, it’s well deserved. Team Asobi’s game is a platformer full of heart, designed with excellence in mind and with an enviable touch. Something we will all soon be able to experience, but not before receiving the news that we will have Astro Bot for a while.
Subscribe to the Softonic newsletter and get the latest in tech, gaming entertainment and deals right in your inbox.
According to Team Asobi, the development studio, they plan to add some kind of DLC in the future. As they told Video Games Chronicle, they have planned to add ten challenge levels and five speedrun levels via DLC. Whether this will be the final number or whether it will be paid or free DLC is something we do not know yet.
Without an official date or confirmation, it is best to take this information with a grain of salt. But given the enthusiasm of those who have been able to try it, it is difficult not to get excited about the possibility of more Astro Bot. Even if we still have to wait a few hours to start, when it comes out on September 6th exclusively for PlayStation 5.
