Astro Bot Highlights PlayStation’s Unexplored Sequels, with CEO Eyeing a Revival of “Past IP”

Astro Bot shines as one of the standout games this year, reminding us of the incredible, yet sometimes neglected, intellectual properties PlayStation holds. However, change could be on the horizon.

This year, at The Game Awards, Astro Bot clinched the prestigious Game of the Year Award. Within the game, there are numerous adored PlayStation classics that haven’t seen the light of day in a long time. Characters like Spyro and Crash have ventured into Microsoft’s domain, and Okami—a third-party gem—is already set for a sequel. Nevertheless, several iconic series such as Ape Escape, Gravity Rush, and Bloodborne certainly deserve another visit.

While there’s no official announcement regarding any sequels for these games—especially those that seem improbable—there’s a glimmer of hope. PlayStation’s chief, Hermen Hulst, has hinted at a potential revival of some older classics.

In a conversation with Famitsu, translated by VGC, Hulst explained, “Our lineup of intellectual properties is a significant asset for PlayStation. As we aim to enhance our portfolio, we constantly explore options to revive older titles and create fresh franchises. We strive to publish games developed by top creators globally, both from within PlayStation and outside, and have found success by collaborating with external development studios.”

We can only hope this doesn’t translate into Ape Escape becoming a gacha game where you collect different apes—although that idea has its own quirky charm. With Sony leaning heavily into live-service games, despite some bumps along the way, anything is possible. In the meantime, let’s keep our fingers crossed for that much-desired Bloodborne remaster, Sony!