It’s been a turbulent few months for Sony. The launch ofConcordwas quickly overshadowed by the decision to take it offline just two weeks later due to low player engagement. Excitement around the announcement of the PS5 Pro has been somewhat muted by the discourse surrounding its polarizing price point. Among all this uncertainty, the release ofAstro Botto universal acclaim was a welcome shot in Sony’s arm. The 3D platformer has struck a winning formula, merging the best elements of platformers likeSuper Mario 64with innovative mechanics that take advantage of PS5 hardware, particularly the DualSense controller.Astro Bothas a bright future, and it seems clear what its next move should be.
Historically, each PlayStation console has an average life cycle of around seven years. If this remains the case for the PS5, then it only has three years left.Astro’s Playroomis a small game that comes pre-installed on every PS5 and allows gamers to get a feel for their new console, and its controller. It serves as a high-quality tech demo that showcases the DualSense controller brilliantly.If the PS6 does launch in 2027 or 2028, havingAstro Bot’s next adventure launch alongside it would make a ton of sense.
Astro Bot’s Next Adventure Could Be Even Bigger
With this in mind, it’s easy to see Astro’s next game being even bigger than this one. Even with thenew mechanics and ideas on display inAstro Bot, the PS6 would likely have a bunch of new features waiting to be shown off, and Astro will probably be more than happy to oblige. Team Asobi toyed with the idea of an open-world format for the game, and the power of the PS6 would make a compelling case for the developer to go down that route for the next installment.
Sony Has Finally Found its New Mascot
When gamers think of Nintendo, most automatically think of Mario. The strength of its branding is incredible, and Mario has transcended the video game world. While Sony could previously count the likes of Lara Croft and Crash Bandicoot among its mascots, a variety of reasons have meant that this is no longer the case. Astro has arguably managed to fill the void though, and Sony has finally found its long-term mascot. Just as eachnew Nintendo console is coupled with a newSuper Mariotitle, the same could be true with Astro and PlayStation moving forward, making the case for a PS6 launch game even stronger.
While a new Astro title is a viable option for a launch game, it isn’t the only option. Fans have been clamoring for aBloodborneremake for some time now, and having that as a PS6 launch titlewould also make sense. There are also heavyweight franchises such asThe Last of Us,Horizon, andRed Dead Redemption, each with a potentially massive third installment somewhere down the line. It can’t be ruled out that maybe more than one of these titles will arrive alongside the PS6’s launch. Even among all these big names, though, a newAstro Botgame remains a solid option for a launch title, and it would be no surprise to see the loveable robot playing a prominent role in the launch of the PS6.
