410°

Astro Bot Is An Incredible Reminder That The PS5 Era Has Been A Huge Bummer

The platformer pays tribute to PlayStation’s past, but its present and future are notably absent

Vithar280d ago

I knew I could count on Kotaku for the negativity

enkiduxiv280d ago

While I don’t think it has been that bad of a generation, I do think Sony can do better. Nothing wrong with reminding them that they have a big legacy to live up to.

toxic-inferno280d ago

I think there's still time. We have a good two or three years left at least, and Sony have released great games towards the end of the last two generations. So I think there's time to turn things around.

But I agree - the PS5 is an incredible console, but the first party offering has been patchy at best.

Vithar280d ago

First Party wise I kinda agree but man, FF7R, FFXVI, Stellar Blade, Helldivers II, Astro Bot, Rise of Ronin, Spider-Man II, Wukong, there's some serious bangers on PS5

280d ago
fr0sty280d ago

PS5 suffered from COVID production slowdown, hardware shortages, and then a terrible shift towards GaaS by its former leader that it is only just now starting to recover from. They're still trying to crap out the last of the GaaS titles greenlit under Ryan, Concord was a last ditch effort to try to salvage what they knew we all didn't want, but they couldn't afford to not at least try to get it out there and recoup some of those losses.

Now with all that out of the way, I think we'll start to see first party Sony shine on PS5.

0hMyGandhi280d ago

@Vithar You using the term "banger" let's me know that you're not that old.

The games you've rattled off wouldn't even scratch a typical year during PS1/PS2 days.
As so many other publications have mentioned, Astro Bot is that type of game that would just...come out in earlier generations. Back when AA gaming was a thing, and not title required 5+ years and 150+ people to bring it to fruition.

I know people like to bash Kotaku, but this was a great read and a salient point being made.

The Wood280d ago (Edited 280d ago )

@Vithar

Dont forget returnal

Bukaku have been questionable since the 360 era

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

Bottom line is PS are fighting against themselves as the other next gen* consoles exclusive output or 1st party output pales in comparison

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 280d ago
InUrFoxHole280d ago

The ps5 and xbox series era has been a huge bummer

fr0sty280d ago

I've thoroughly enjoyed my PS5.

InUrFoxHole280d ago

@frosty
I'm sure you are. But do you think the ps5 era was better than the ps3 era? I don't think it is. Obviously this comes down to preference. I also think the 360 era was better than the series x

VenomUK279d ago (Edited 279d ago )

If anything or anyone is a ‘bummer’ it’s the author Kenneth Shepard who is a big supporter of ideological based interactive experiences like Dustborn and hates ‘gamers’. The majority of his recent content is low effort reactions to Sonic TV or movies news.

https://kotaku.com/author/k...

Michiel1989279d ago

@inurfoxhole you really use the ps3 era as reference? where Sony did the worst of any generation, especially at the start. I think you forgot how shit all multiplats ran on ps3 and that it took YEARS for ps3 to finally get a decent offering of games. It's still one of my fav consoles regardless of all that, but lets not kid ourselves here, even though Sony came out on top in the end it was by far their worst gen.

FinalFantasyFanatic279d ago

@Michiel1989,
I'd still argue the PS5 gen is worse, at least the PS3 eventually found it's footing and pumped out the exclusives, I have yet to see the PS5 do the same, there's still time, but I'm not feeling confident at this point.

InUrFoxHole279d ago

@M1989
I'm just referring to the software side. I excluded the RROD for the 360 era too. For the software I really enjoyed that gen. Maybe it's because all the ideas seemed more fresh and new. I think it's harder to wow new gamers now and the software is poorly optimized for the most part. I hear you on the hardware side though.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 279d ago
EternalTitan279d ago

I dont understand why Kotaku is upset, they can play Dustborn and Flintlock just fine. Those games are made for them.

127maXimus279d ago

I think the cross generation releases have gone on far too long, obviously for financial reasons, and the Series S, which I own, and its deficient memory situation has made a difference in holding back true next generation experiences. The games that Sony has put out, Helldivers, Astrobot, Spider Man 2, God of War etc..have been bangers. I’m interested to see what the PS5 Pro can do over the next few years. As a side note, I thought Kotaku went out of business?

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 279d ago
ravens52280d ago

Not for me 🤷🏽. They have been lacking first party though.

280d ago Replies(1)
Jingsing280d ago (Edited 280d ago )

To be fair it has been a generation of no exclusives and a lot of remasters. That is hardly going to get people lining up to buy a PS5 Pro or PS6. Sony copying Microsoft's strategy in slow motion will only end up with the same result and upset base too. They should be more Nintendo and less Microsoft and build on their console brand rather than diluting it.

crazyCoconuts280d ago

They're not copying MS strategy in slow motion - these are completely different scenarios imo.
PS has always pushed exclusives but likely got distracted by Live Service which interrupted their pipeline and gave us this relatively slow period. (Remember Spiderman 2 just came out last year BTW)
MS wanted to dominate with exclusives first by making them (failed) then by buying them (failed) until they couldn't justify the cost anymore. So they're stepping away from more exclusives because 3rd party makes more money for them. If you believe in the traditional business model, this is signalling they're stepping away from the Xbox console.
Sony is still pushing their exclusives, they just hit a bump in the road. Maybe if/when xbox as a console is gone you could argue that they don't need exclusives, but they may very well focus on stripping market share from their next biggest competitor - PC / Nintendo. I don't see Sony stepping away from exclusives as long as they have competition in the console space.

Samonuske280d ago

Live service hasn’t really interrupted anything though, the big single player developers have just been cooking. We still have no idea what Naughty Dog or Sucker Punch are doing. And over the last 3 years, we got Horizon, God of War and Spider-man/Ratchet. And we got Astrobot today. Like their single player is still strong the difference is on PS4 these were new titles and this gen they’re sequels that haven’t had the same impact. If Naughty Dog are working on something new it has me excited! We’ve gotten hella 3rd party exclusives which has been surprising, and the live service stuff has been all from the studios that aren’t really known for single player games. They’re coexisting just fine imo. I haven’t had a shortage of things to play since 2020.

SeTTriP280d ago

We say the same thing every generation until the last 3 or 4 years of ps life cycle then everybody back glazing Sony for all the exclusives and that one killer new ip.GTA6 is going to kick it off, I mean this shit happens literally every generation.im excited for the pro but I'm also the guy that spends no less then 2k on t.v's.im the demographic for this product, don't see why ppl who don't want it find themselves always shitting on it when it's for enthusiast.the PS5 is selling like gangbusters I'm pretty sure this isn't going to hurt Sony bottom line or brand.its just a little extra for people who want to pay for it.meanwhile for ppl how don't want it, this will drive the cost of the base ps5 down.whats the complaint?

FinalFantasyFanatic279d ago

Exactly, this feels like a race to the bottom, and I'm certainly not happy about that, especially when Playstation has a stack of dormant IPs they can draw from. They really need to course correct, but I feel like they're going to let their current plans play out first.

Show all comments (68)
70°

Sony's Live Service Ambition Died So PlayStation's History of Quirky Games Can Thrive Once Again

TNS: Sony has had an interesting career with live-service games, making this new lineup of PlayStation releases all the more interesting.

Read Full Story >>
thenerdstash.com
lellkay1d 13h ago

Nice little read and I really hope it rings true.

Gameseeker_Frampt1d ago

It is not every day that I get to read an article pointing to a videogame that is releasing on PC, PlayStation, and XBox and another game published by Bandai Namco as proof of Sony's return to "quirky games."

Sony does need to return to their roots but since they've closed most of their studios that took those risks it will not be easy. It would also be nice to return to those times where we go more than 1 new first-party exclusive a year. It is hard to take risks if you are only releasing 1 game a year.

140°

Astro Bot: five new Vicious Void Galaxy levels, Special Bots launch this July

Plus, an updated Astro Bot Limited Edition DualSense wireless controller is coming later this year.

Read Full Story >>
blog.playstation.com
ocelot079d ago

More astro bots is always a good thing.

8d ago
Cacabunga8d ago

I thought for a moment they will announce a VR version
It’s the only thing I’m waiting for to buy that psvr2

8d ago
Relientk779d ago

Sweet more free Astro Bot levels to play

Levii_929d ago

Omg i’m so glad i read the blog! I can’t wait to see what the special surprise is when you finish all the levels, i’m hoping we unlock a level similar to Winter Wonderland or something like that..

Where you collect FF bots ;))

darthv729d ago

"an updated Astro Bot Limited Edition DualSense wireless controller is coming later this year"

Music to my ears

Cellblock119d ago

Astro Bot is the gift that keeps on giving.

Show all comments (9)
120°

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Takes 2nd on the UK Retail Charts Following PS5 Release

Hogwarts Legacy has remained in first place on the UK retail charts, according to GfK data for the week ending April 19, 2025.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, following the release of the PS5 version, came in second place.

Astro Bot dropped one spot to third place, while Monster Hunter Wilds remained in fourth place. Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate is up one spot to fifth place and EA Sports FC 25 is up six spots to sixth place.

Read Full Story >>
vgchartz.com
Knushwood Butt49d ago

Playstation owners buy games.

Strange seeing Hogwarts there as I downloaded it for my son from PS Plus a couple of days ago.

InUrFoxHole49d ago

Playstation owners buy games? That's a wild badge of honor my boy.

Bathyj49d ago

Not really. It's directly contributed to having the healthiest console and ecosystem. Not really debatable.

The alternative is a console platform holder whose least important customers are the ones who own their console. That's why it's Microsoft games studios now not Xbox in all but name.

Microsoft needs PlayStation, PC and Nintendo players now more than they need Xbox players. They're a dying breed.

49d ago
andy8549d ago

Not really. That's why Xbox is going under consoles wise. PS gamers purchase stuff that's why console and game sales are always high. Xbox gamers want games for 'free' on gamepass and to enter at the lowest price point (series s)

VenomUK49d ago

@InUrFoxHole said “Playstation owners buy games? That's a wild badge of honor my boy.”

This Tuesday after The Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion was finally revealed I saw a tonne of conversation on X/Twitter of people gleefully mocking PS5 owners who said they were buying the game, as they were getting it for free with Game Pass. Yes, that’s great value for people with a Game Pass subscription - but do you still not see how it has impacted the Xbox hardware platform? It’s the reason Indiana Jones and Oblivion and Forza Horizon 5 aren’t exclusive anymore.

ravens5249d ago

InUrFoxHole, its wild that you think that's wild lmao. 🤯. You buy your food from the grocery store?? Ugggh. You should get Factor. Who pays for food anymore when you can pay a subscription to receive food for "free". Disgusting.

Sound stupid? It is.

InUrFoxHole49d ago (Edited 49d ago )

@Bathy
That's some cope there. You think the healthiest console is the one that doesn't even provide their gamers with their exclusive games? That crazy talk man. The healthiest is Nintendo and that's 💯 not even a debate. MS provides gamers with games. Sony provides you with MS games. Enjoy

@andy
You have broke brain. Gamepass isn't free. It's a sub service. Jesus n4g knows how to pick'em

andy8549d ago

@InUrFoxHole notice I put free in ' ' these? Doesn't take a genius. Every game that comes out on Xbox you'll see this comment "is this coming to gamepass".

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 49d ago
49d ago
VenomUK49d ago (Edited 49d ago )

Duplicate post

goken49d ago

2nd on the charts for a game such as Indy ain’t great.
Releasing half year after xbox version probably cooled off some demand.

This is a very good game, deserves the best chance to do well.

badz14949d ago

The real great performer here is Astrobot. keeping that rate of sales for a last year's game that is not GTAV, CoD and FIFA (now Hogwarts too). outselling MH Wilds and EA FC is kinda wild for Astrobot!

dveio49d ago (Edited 49d ago )

Hogwart's, Indiana, Astro Bot & Monster Hunter - that's a pretty nice top 4 once again.

I bet MachineGames are quite happy about the sales pouring in.