Astro Bot, truly one of the standout games this year, shines a light on the wealth of intellectual property PlayStation has at its disposal, yet often leaves untouched. However, it seems this might be set to change.
The charming mascot Astro Bot clinched the Game of the Year Award at this year’s Game Awards, and within its universe, many cherished PlayStation classics make an appearance. Yet, these favorites haven’t seen new releases in quite some time. Games like Spyro and Crash have ventured off to Xbox since they’re no longer under PlayStation’s umbrella, and Okami, while a third-party title, is lucky enough to be getting a sequel. But there are still plenty of gems showcased in Astro Bot that could certainly shine again, such as Ape Escape, Gravity Rush, and Bloodborne, to name a few.
No official announcements have surfaced regarding new installments for these titles, and, understandably, some seem like a long shot. Nevertheless, PlayStation’s top executive, Hermen Hulst, has hinted at potential revivals of older games.
In a conversation with Famitsu, translated by VGC, Hulst expressed PlayStation’s dedication to leveraging their existing intellectual properties. He remarked, “The various IPs that we own are an important asset to PlayStation, and as part of our efforts to strengthen our portfolio, we are continually looking at opportunities to leverage past IP, as well as develop new franchises. Our goal is to publish games by the world’s best creators, both inside and outside of PlayStation, and we have achieved many successes so far by working closely with external development studios.”
This could imply anything for Ape Escape’s future, perhaps not something like a gacha game full of collectible apes—which, as amusing as the thought is, might not capture the original spirit. With Sony’s current focus on live-service models, despite some bumps in the road, the future is unpredictable. For now, many fans, myself included, are just crossing our fingers for a Bloodborne remaster. Come on, Sony, make it happen!
