In a recent episode of the PlayStation podcast, SIE CEO Hermen Hulst and game director Nicolas Doucet shed light on why Astro Bot has become a cornerstone for PlayStation, offering insights into the company's future direction 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 always aimed high with Astro Bot, aspiring to establish it as one of the premier games on PlayStation that appeals to all ages. From the outset, the Astro Bot team set out to "elevate Astro into becoming a character who could be proudly presented alongside the amazing franchises from PlayStation Studios." 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 "as many people as possible" to play Astro Bot, including both seasoned gamers and newcomers. He noted, "whether they are gamers or first-time gamers, because they're going to be perhaps, kids, who'll have [Astro Bot] as their first game they ever play." The ultimate goal, according to Doucet, 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. "As a result, the heartbeat of the player—the experience that you have—from start to finish is something we [wanted] to calibrate." He stressed the importance of games that allow players to "relax and have a good time," adding, "making people smile—laugh, even; not just smile—laugh with the game is really, really important."
When asked about the potential for more 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 shared his excitement about the project, saying, "It’s interesting that Nico and I, at the beginning of the project, talked a little bit about platformers—so many of the great ones come out of Japan and I was kind of joking with him saying ‘let’s see some of those best games coming out of the country that you operate out of and see the bar’, and I’m just so excited that they’re delivering that now." He praised Team Asobi for creating a game that "plays like some of the best in that genre," noting its accessibility to players of all ages—"from new players to young players [and] also players of my age."
Hulst underscored Astro Bot's significance to PlayStation, stating, "Astro is very, very important to PlayStation. Obviously, we had the pre-install with the PlayStation 5 that millions and millions have embraced and loved, and I think that’s becoming a little bit of a platform to launch this new game now." He added, "It's become a great game in itself, but it has [also] become a celebration of everything PlayStation at this point," further remarking that "it's kind of becoming synonymous with PlayStation and with our innovation and legacy in great single-player gaming that we have at PlayStation Studios."
Amid Concord Flop, Sony Says It Needs More Original IP
In the same podcast episode, Hulst discussed the diversification of PlayStation's game portfolio over the years, noting that the platform has reached "bigger" and wider audiences. "Game launches are massively important and they’re different for every team," Hulst said. "In my new role as a CEO of the Studio Business Group at SIE, I look a little bit more at the business aspect of a launch," emphasizing the importance of targeting various genres, with a strong focus on 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," he added, highlighting that the launch of Astro Bot is a celebration of "what PlayStation has made great over the years—it’s a celebration of joy and of collaboration."
In a recent interview with the Financial Times published on September 4, Sony's chief executive Kenichiro Yoshida acknowledged the company's need for more original IPs, stating, "We don’t have enough original IPs that we have built from the ground up. We have the technology and creation is the area where we like and where we can contribute the most."
Yoshida added, "Whether it’s for games, films or anime, we don’t have that much IP that we fostered from the beginning. We’re lacking the early phase (of IP) and that’s an issue for us," with chief financial officer Hiroki Totoki noting that Sony has historically been more successful in bringing established IPs popular in Japan to a global audience. Examples include Gran Turismo, Bloodborne, Ghost of Tsushima, and now Astro Bot.
Financial analyst Atul Goyal, as reported by the Financial Times, described Sony's new focus as "a natural part" of the company's expansion into "a fully integrated media company." Goyal emphasized, "One thing that you need is IP, that is step one. And if you don’t start creating or buying in those that do, then the risk is someone else will do it. So the risk is not doing anything."
Yoshida's comments came just before the shutdown of Sony's first-person hero shooter, Concord. The 5v5 hero shooter, which lasted only two weeks, received overwhelmingly negative reviews and disappointing sales. In response, Sony and Concord developer Firewalk announced that the game would be taken offline indefinitely to "determine the best path ahead" and "explore options, including those that will better reach our players." The team stated on the PlayStation Blog, "While we determine the best path ahead, Concord sales will cease immediately and we will begin to offer a full refund for all gamers who have purchased the game for PS5 or PC." Prior to its shutdown, Concord was set to be part of Amazon's Secret Level series, though it remains uncertain whether these plans will proceed.
