In a recent episode of the PlayStation podcast, SIE CEO Hermen Hulst and game director Nicolas Doucet shed light on the significance of Astro Bot to PlayStation's strategy, highlighting the company's ambitions in the gaming industry.
Astro Bot Is “Very, Very Important” For PlayStation in Expansion to “Family-Friendly” Market
PlayStation Wants You to Smile and Laugh with Their Games
Nicolas Doucet, the game director from Sony-owned Team Asobi, has set his sights high with Astro Bot, aiming to establish it as one of PlayStation's premier titles that appeals to all ages. From the outset, the team's vision was to elevate Astro into a character that could stand proudly alongside PlayStation Studios' iconic franchises. Doucet emphasized, "I think there's a bigger meaning to all of this—I think it's to really capture the 'all ages' category."
During the podcast, Doucet, alongside SIE CEO Hermen Hulst, expressed his desire for Astro Bot to reach "as many people as possible," including both seasoned gamers and newcomers, particularly children experiencing their first game. The ultimate goal, Doucet stated, is to "put a smile on all of these people's faces," aligning with PlayStation's broader vision for Astro Bot.
Doucet described Astro Bot as a "back-to-basics" game, prioritizing gameplay over narrative. "The heartbeat of the player—the experience that you have—from start to finish is something we wanted to calibrate," he explained. He further highlighted the importance of relaxation and enjoyment in gaming, stating, "making people smile—laugh, even; not just smile—laugh with the game is really, really important."
When asked about investing more resources into family-friendly titles, CEO Hulst affirmed that it is "massively important" for PlayStation Studios to explore various genres, with a particular focus on the family market.
Hulst reminisced about early discussions with Doucet about platformers, noting the high standards set by Japanese developers. He praised Team Asobi for delivering a game that "plays like some of the best in that genre," emphasizing Astro Bot's accessibility to players of all ages, from beginners to seasoned gamers.
"Astro is very, very important to PlayStation," Hulst declared. He pointed out the success of the Astro Bot pre-install on the PlayStation 5, which has been embraced by millions, and its role as a launchpad for the new game. "It's become a great game in itself, but it has also become a celebration of everything PlayStation at this point," he added, noting that Astro Bot is becoming synonymous with PlayStation's innovation and legacy in single-player gaming.
Amid Concord Flop, Sony Says It Needs More Original IP
In the same podcast episode, Hulst discussed the diversification of PlayStation's game portfolio and its reach to broader audiences. He highlighted the importance of game launches and the strategic focus on various genres, particularly the family market.
"PlayStation has a bigger community than it’s ever had and I think our portfolio of great games is more diverse now," Hulst said. He celebrated the launch of Astro Bot as a testament to what PlayStation has excelled at over the years, describing it as "a celebration of joy and of collaboration."
In a recent Financial Times interview on September 4, Sony's chief executive Kenichiro Yoshida acknowledged the company's need for more original IPs developed from scratch. "Whether it’s for games, films or anime, we don’t have that much IP that we fostered from the beginning," Yoshida admitted. CFO Hiroki Totoki added that Sony has historically been more successful in globalizing established IPs from Japan, such as Gran Turismo, Bloodborne, Ghost of Tsushima, and now Astro Bot.
Financial analyst Atul Goyal noted that Sony's shift towards creating more original IPs is a natural step in its evolution into a fully integrated media company. "One thing that you need is IP, that is step one," Goyal stated, emphasizing the risk of inaction in this area.
Yoshida's comments came just before the shutdown of Sony's first-person hero shooter, Concord, which lasted only two weeks after launch and received overwhelmingly negative reviews and poor sales. In a post on the PlayStation Blog, Sony and Concord developer Firewalk announced the game's indefinite suspension to "determine the best path ahead" and explore options to better reach players. They also offered full refunds to all purchasers on PS5 and PC. Prior to its shutdown, Concord was set to be part of Amazon's Secret Level series, though future plans remain uncertain.
