Astro Bot has truly stood out this year as one of the top games, serving as a stark reminder of the treasure trove of intellectual property (IP) that PlayStation holds but sometimes overlooks. However, there are signs that this might be changing.
Astro Bot, which nabbed the prestigious Game of the Year Award at The Game Awards, brought to light many beloved PlayStation titles that haven’t seen new adventures in quite some time. Classics like Spyro and Crash are no longer in PlayStation’s repertoire, having shifted to Xbox ownership, while others such as Okami, although still under third-party control, are fortunately getting sequels. Yet, there’s a nostalgic spark for games like Ape Escape, Gravity Rush, and Bloodborne that certainly deserve another shot.
Currently, there’s no official news on these games making a comeback, and chances for some seem slim. But, PlayStation’s head honcho, Hermen Hulst, has dropped hints that the company might be considering reviving some of these older gems.
In a conversation with Famitsu, translated by VGC, Hulst expressed that PlayStation sees its array of IPs as crucial assets. He stated, “Our vision to strengthen our portfolio involves exploring the potential of our past IPs and creating new franchises. We strive to release games from the world’s finest creators, both from within PlayStation and from external partners. This collaborative approach has yielded significant successes.”
While we joke about the possibility of Ape Escape turning into a gacha game where you collect various quirky apes (which, truth be told, could be amusing), the reality is Sony has been focusing heavily on live-service models – even though that journey has had its hiccups. Amidst these possibilities, many fans are still holding out hope for a Bloodborne remaster. Come on, Sony, make it happen!
